Pine Rivers Courthouse and Watch House
After the successful completion of the Caloundra Courthouse and Watch House, Guymer Bailey Landscape and Guymer Bailey Architects were commissioned by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General (DJAG) to design the Pine Rivers Courthouse and Watch House located on a challenging site in the commercial hub of Strathpine.
An existing storm water canal that ran through the site influenced much of the site planning and also motivated our value-adding decision to partially cover the canal with an entry podium.
In keeping with the DJAG’s philosophy of accessible, transparent and open justice facilities, the main entrance has been defined by a front promenade that provides a prominent sense of arrival. Key to this is the sculptural representation that features stainless steel poles with tips of dicoic glass that dance through the entry pavement to represent the reeds found in a creek bed that once flowed through the site. Polished black pebbles have been set in the pavement in fluid shapes to represent the water of the creek. Other outdoor spaces surrounding the courthouse provide private gardens populated with native plants that provide a welcoming place of retreat from the proceedings taking place inside.
Stage A works included the refurbishment and extension of an existing two-storey classroom block as well as the construction of a new covered walkway through the centre of the school.
PROCESS
An existing storm water canal that ran through the site influenced much of the site planning and also motivated our value-adding decision to partially cover the canal with an entry podium.
METHODOLOGY
In keeping with the DJAG’s philosophy of accessible, transparent and open justice facilities, the main entrance has been defined by a front promenade that provides a prominent sense of arrival. Key to this is the sculptural representation that features stainless steel poles with tips of dicoic glass that dance through the entry pavement to represent the reeds found in a creek bed that once flowed through the site. Polished black pebbles have been set in the pavement in fluid shapes to represent the water of the creek. Other outdoor spaces surrounding the courthouse provide private gardens populated with native plants that provide a welcoming place of retreat from the proceedings taking place inside.
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Yuggera People
COMPLETION
2008
LOCATION
Queensland, Strathpine
CLIENT
Project Services Queensland
PROJECT CONTACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
Scott Burrows Photography
VALUE OUTCOMES
“GB-A were an absolute pleasure to work with. The team on site and in the office never cut corners and were committed to delivering a very high quality project.”
Jim Spainard, Golburn Enterprise
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology. Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy.
PRINCIPLES OF PASSION
During the design process, our project team not only considers the physical context of the designs but also examines the social and cultural context. Through every design, we look for ways to inspire positive attitudes, behaviours and emotional responses in people to encourage the responsible use of resources, increase cooperation among occupants, and communicate the values of society and cultural diversity.
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology.
We design built environments from a holistic, sustainable perspective: each project reconciles ecological and social impacts within the current economic climate. We holistically evaluate environmental, cultural and financial sustainability in every task we undertake.