David Fleay Wildlife Park Amphitheatre
ARCHITECTURE
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LANDSCAPE
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INTERIORS
David Fleay Wildlife Park Amphitheatre
The new 150-seat outdoor amphitheatre at David Fleay Wildlife Park provides a dedicated show space that enhances visitors' natural experiences, encourages close encounters with wildlife and facilitates Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) ranger-led interpretive demonstrations, such as free-flight bird or animal shows.
The amphitheatre’s design prioritises the experience of nature in its form, function and materiality. Beautifully crafted artificial rockwork terraces step down the embankment of Moon Dam to create the picturesque amphitheatre setting with spectators shaded by a simple skillion roof form that has three overlapping panels. The roof structure design has been carefully considered to remove the need for cross bracing and strutting, which would endanger birds during free-flight displays. Colour selections help the structure blend into the natural setting by adopting the tones of leaves and bushland shadows.
Artificial rockwork continues on stage and forms a shallow pool, waterfall and ramp up from Moon Dam for aquatic bird species to enter the stage. Artificial rockwork structures at each end of the stage house sound and lighting controls and transportable pet packs for displayed fauna. The stage also incorporates an artificial tree sculpture for use as a perch by showcased birds. The amphitheatre’s setting is completed by the reinstatement of the surrounding gardens using native rainforest and riparian species that blend with the surrounding bushland.
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
The amphitheatre’s design prioritises the experience of nature in its form, function and materiality. Beautifully crafted artificial rockwork terraces step down the embankment of Moon Dam to create the picturesque amphitheatre setting with spectators shaded by a simple skillion roof form that has three overlapping panels. The roof structure design has been carefully considered to remove the need for cross bracing and strutting, which would endanger birds during free-flight displays.
METHODOLOGY
Artificial rockwork continues on stage and forms a shallow pool, waterfall and ramp up from Moon Dam for aquatic bird species to enter the stage. Artificial rockwork structures at each end of the stage house sound and lighting controls and transportable pet packs for displayed fauna. The stage also incorporates an artificial tree sculpture for use as a perch by showcased birds. The amphitheatre’s setting is completed by the reinstatement of the surrounding gardens using native rainforest and riparian species that blend with the surrounding bushland.
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Bundjalung People
COMPLETION
2015
LOCATION
Gold Coast, Queensland
CLIENT
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services
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.