Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre
The landscape of the Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre, located at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens has been designed to be both educational and enjoyable, allowing visitors to take in the natural features of the Botanic Gardens and surrounding bushland.
Working closely with Maroochy Botanic Garden staff, Guymer Bailey Landscape developed a native garden design that uses plant species endemic to the Sunshine Coast region. This flora promotes favourable micro-climatic conditions and ensures sustainable and healthy plant growth without the need for permanent irrigation. Creating a continuous flow from indoor to outdoor spaces landscaped courtyards create flexible activity spaces that merge into the gardens by natural walls and planting.
With the Centre designed to inspire current and future generations to expand their knowledge of sustainable living, the landscape follows suit, displaying environmentally sustainable elements for visitor education. One such feature is the overland flow paths that simulate natural creek channels by using rocks and gravel surfaces, macrophytic plants and bioretention basins to control and filter stormwater runoff.
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
Working closely with Maroochy Botanic Garden staff, Guymer Bailey Landscape developed a native garden design that uses plant species endemic to the Sunshine Coast region. This flora promotes favourable micro-climatic conditions and ensures sustainable and healthy plant growth without the need for permanent irrigation. Creating a continuous flow from indoor to outdoor spaces landscaped courtyards create flexible activity spaces that merge into the gardens by natural walls and planting.
METHODOLOGY
With the Centre designed to inspire current and future generations to expand their knowledge of sustainable living, the landscape follows suit, displaying environmentally sustainable elements for visitor education. One such feature is the overland flow paths that simulate natural creek channels by using rocks and gravel surfaces, macrophytic plants and bioretention basins to control and filter stormwater runoff.
AWARDS
2012
Queensland Master Builders
Award for Innovation in Environmental Management – Winner
2012
Local Government Managers Australia Awards
QLD Excellence in Sustainability – Finalist
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Gubbi Gubbi People
COMPLETION
2011
LOCATION
Queensland, Tanawah
CLIENT
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
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.