2022 National Award for Urban Design

Jury citation

The brief for Walyalup Civic Centre was to provide new life to an important historic precinct of Fremantle. Kerry Hill Architects, selected through an international competition process, responded with a project of absolute clarity, redefining the precinct with a strong sense of generosity and democracy.

This generosity is created through the skilful opening of the building to the public and the interconnectedness of surrounding streets and spaces. New perceptual possibilities are formed by sensitive connections between existing historic buildings. The opening of the ground plane stitches together once disparate spaces, offering moments of surprise and delight.

The generous gesture of the sloping front lawn is both playful and a joyful comment on the democratic West Australian culture. The residents of Fremantle and visitors have quickly taken ownership of this and the surrounding spaces. The inclined plane allows the public to look deep into the inner spaces of the council chambers, advocating a sense of transparency and accessibility.

The facade’s crisp, metal veil carefully reveals the interior, creating intrigue and allowing internal spaces to become more visible at night. The veil also protects the interior from the harsh summer sun.

Walyalup Civic Centre charges the entire precinct, inviting it to be activated by the public while ensuring that it remains comfortable even with only a few people. It successfully demonstrates the role that a building may play in transforming an entire precinct from forgotten and neglected space to a liberating place that enables many uses, and embraces all cultures, ages and demographics.

— Walyalup Civic Centre will be reviewed in Architecture Australia January/February 2023.

Project credits

Architect Kerry Hill Architects (KHA); Project team Kerry Hill, Patrick Kosky, Seán McGivern, Gertjan Groen, Anna Siefert, Ryan Brown, Lan Nguyen, Devang Mawjee, Martin Mulchrone, Alexandra Quick, Lee Kheng Teoh, Levi Phillips, Nick Derickx, Simon Cundy, Nicholas Putrasia, Jasmine Pummer, Emily Sullivan, Jacqui Armstrong, Lucy Dennis, Maricel Marbus; Builder Pindan Constructions, CDI Group; Project manager and superintendent Sirona Capital Management; Superintendent representative Total Project Management; Structural, mechanical, civil and fire engineering, fire services Stantec Australia; Electrical engineering, vertical transport Best Consultants; Hydraulic consultant PGD Consulting; ESD Link Engineering; Acoustics Marshall Day Acoustics; Landscape consultant Plan E; Specialist lighting design Nothing Into Something; Lighting commissioning Firefly Point of View; Building surveyor Resolve Group; Facade engineering Inhabit Group; Waste consultant Encycle Consulting; Heritage consultant Hocking Heritage; Heritage structural engineer Atelier JV; Signage Turner Design; Height-safety consultant Altura Height Safety Professionals; AV consultant UT Consulting; Traffic consultant Edge Transport Solutions

Walyalup Civic Centre is located in Fremantle, Western Australia on the land of the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation.