The concept behind this high profile project can be summed up as 'architecture that speaks to the footy crowd'. The brief was to develop a facility that balanced the requirements of an elite level training facility enabling the ongoing development and financial viability of the Richmond Football Club with the need for public participation and engagement of the local community.
DESIGN DESCRIPTION
A joint partnership between the Football Club, City of Melbourne, Department of Sport and Recreation and the Australian Football League, the redevelopment contributes to the themed landscape of the Richmond Tigers Football Club.
The design team took inspiration from the extruded shapes of sculptor Clement Meadmore and newspaper stills of Australian Rules footballers in action to root the concept in a local and athletic context.
The long narrow slither of land around Punt Road Oval allowed the continuation of this motif, with the building 'contorting and squeezing' between the oval's boundary and AFL Way, as it progresses towards the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The elevations in the new facility draw inspiration from the post-game tradition in Australian Rules Football for the winning team to form a winner's circle as they sing their team song in victory.
Another cultural consideration was the respect paid to the Jack Dyer Stand, built in celebration of one of Richmond's greatest footballers, with the continuation of the red brick grandstand.
The new facility also houses the Korin Gamadji Institute, a training centre for indigenous youth, which will be a life skills centre offering vocation training and VET courses. The continuation of the red brick is also a reference to the red of the Indigenous flag, and the club's history of involvement with indigenous groups in Victoria and Central Australia.
The multiple uses for the redevelopment evolved from an ethos of co-location which enriches its programmatic function, with areas dedicated to football use, community use and space dedicated as flexible areas able to be programmed for use by all parties at different times.
ACCOLADES
Chicago Athenaeum,International Architecture Awards, Winner 2012
RAIA (VIC) Architecture Awards, Commercial shortlist 2012
Forbo Awards, Corporate Flooring Commendation 2012
Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards, Award for Best Workplace, Victoria Finalist 2013
PRODUCTS
EXTERNAL WALL
PRECAST CONCRETE
BRICK SNAPS
DANIEL ROBERTSON AUSTRALIA, TERRACOTTA AND RED GLAZED 13mm
METAL WALL CLADDING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, TRIMDEK
METAL ROOF CLADDING
STRAMIT BUILDING PRODUCTS, SPEED DECK ULTRA
EXTERNAL GLAZING WINDOWS
CAPRAL ALUMINIUM LTD
LIDCO - ALUMINIUM WINDOWS AND DOORS
OPERABLE WALLS
LOTUS FOLDING WALLS & DOORS
GLAZING
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS
PLYWOOD INTERNAL WALLS
WATTYL, SPEED STAIN
PAINT
DULUX, BLACK, VIVID WHITE, SULPHUR AND HOT LIPS
FLOORING
FORBO FLOORING
REBOUND ACE SPORTS SURFACES
TILING
CERAMIC SOLUTIONS (AUST), CHROMA II
