Broadbeach Library
Cultural
CLIENT
Gold Coast City Council
LOCATION
Broadbeach QLD
Bundjalung
VALUE
$6.1M
COMPLETED
2008
The extension to Broadbeach Library for Gold Coast City Council increased the size of the existing library three fold. The substantial new part of the building was built over the existing library to allow for the existing building to remain operational for as long as possible. The building was seen as an opportunity to establish an integrated precinct with the existing community building.
PEOPLE
Andrew Armstrong
Greg Dart
Cath Elliot
Elisha Bunk
Michael Robertson
Roger Walker
The form and details for the extension were taken from historic images from the area and included reference to the once plentiful casuarinas in the surrounding water courses, the previous inland sand hills and the colourful 60’s beachside architecture.
The colourful end walls give the building an iconic presence in the community. The interior is bathed in indirect southern natural light from a series of skylights reducing the reliance on artificial lighting. A neutral internal colour scheme and natural material palette has been adopted. Building services such as air conditioning have been designed to minimise ongoing running costs.
Since opening there has been a significant increase in the number of people using the library. The new café, pedestrian link to Pacific Fair shopping centre and the open forecourt which includes the existing community building entry provides a defined activity zone at the entry to the new building.
Photographer: © John Mills
