The roundhouse has provided an iconic social and cultural hub at UNSW for over 60 years, but after countless additions, no longer met acoustic and energy standards.
This community centre, named after infamous local activist Juanita Nielsen, is rejuvenated as a social place without sanitisation or gentrification. The 1888 heritage fabric is retained, up-cycled and celebrated, while precise ceiling geometry creates a distinctive zigzag motif, reminiscent of Juanita's famous portrait.
This transformation of a 1920s industrial building creates transparency between the local community and childcare environment. Timber within the playground creates a textured landscape connected with the playground's trees, while the interior re-imagines the urban fabric at a child’s scale.