Caloundra Courthouse
The Caloundra Courthouse and Watch House has become a landmark building within the regional hub of Caloundra. Easily viewed from the main road, the landscape has been designed to communicate the Department of Justice and the Attorney General’s (DJAG) philosophy of an accessible and transparent justice system.
One of the key features in the design is the ‘Arrow of Justice’ created by a prominent artist. This large, pivoting shard collects and dramatically tips the roof rainwater when full into a paved collection pond below where it is then pumped for storage in tanks and recycled. To enforce the message of justice, the path leading up to the artwork has selected paving with subtly engraved tiles featuring the words ‘truth’, ‘honesty’ and ‘integrity’.
Local gene pool and other native plants have been utilised throughout the grounds for shade, colour, screening and buffering. The glazed internal courtyard features rainforest plants to allow natural light into courtrooms and specialised meeting rooms and create calming views. The watch house landscaping forms screening and privacy from neighbours and the street and has carefully considered the need to preserve lines of sight for guards and the CCTV security cameras around the building.
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
One of the key features in the design is the ‘Arrow of Justice’ created by a prominent artist. This large, pivoting shard collects and dramatically tips the roof rainwater when full into a paved collection pond below where it is then pumped for storage in tanks and recycled. To enforce the message of justice, the path leading up to the artwork has selected paving with subtly engraved tiles featuring the words ‘truth’, ‘honesty’ and ‘integrity’.
METHODOLOGY
Local gene pool and other native plants have been utilised throughout the grounds for shade, colour, screening and buffering. The glazed internal courtyard features rainforest plants to allow natural light into courtrooms and specialised meeting rooms and create calming views. The watch house landscaping forms screening and privacy from neighbours and the street and has carefully considered the need to preserve lines of sight for guards and the CCTV security cameras around the building.
AWARDS
2007
Australian Institute of Architects
Commendation – Sunshine Coast Regional
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Gubbi Gubbi People
COMPLETION
2004
LOCATION
Caloundra, Queensland
CLIENT
Dept of Justice - Project Services - Queensland
PROJECT CONTACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
Scott Burrows Photography
AWARDS
Commendation – Sunshine Coast Regional
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.