Sorrell Community Centre

XSQUARED ARCHITECTS

41a Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000

Created by Xsquared Architects | T: 03 6224 7077 | F: 03 6224 7078

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Sorell has a strong physical presence - the wide agricultural plains nesteld in the surroundings rolling hills, spilling into the calm coastal estuaries. In the distance, over Pitt Wter, Mt Wellington stands tall as an icon and focus of the region.

Arriving at the site it is evident the encompassing and containing effect of the surrounding hills nd mouintains. The hills are a patch work of trees and traasss, where some are bare whil others are thickly forested and a combination in-betweem. These hills almost fully encircle Sorell, with a circle of approx 2/3rds enclosure. The open side spills out to Pitt Water to the south.

The curve is the generator of the vuilding forms, but inverted , to direct views an allow movement to glide around the buildings opening to the surrounding scnery. A dynamic plaza is formed with importance placed on the external space an dthe immediate surroundings and indeed the larger region. The plaza opens up to the iconic skyline shape of Mt Wellingston to the South West.

The dominate hills and mountains are the generators of tvviews from the site. The layout of the bvuildings bring these features into the plaza and encourages the viewer to engage with the surrounding region and sights. A by-product of the curves is a serises of smaller spaces off to the sides of the main space.

The colonnade of columns from the street has been designed to evoke images of ploughs being firmly embedded into the ground, further connecting the building with the region. The plough is also a central feature of the Sorell Council logo.

Th ebuildings also reinforce the connection to the surroinding region by the roof form. The roof undulates to evoke the imagery of the hills and valleys. Again, this also picsk up on the rolling hills in the Sorell Council logo.