
Clarence Valley Council – Sir Earle Page Library & Education Centre
A vibrant social, cultural and educational hub to inspire a major regional community.
The project sees the transformation of an under-utilised railway carpark into a stimulating and invaluable civic asset.
The building comprises a library, the regional library administrative centre and an outreach facility for Southern Cross University, and takes the opportunity to be a showpiece for Council’s ESD initiatives.
The final Grafton CBD location was selected after we prepared conceptual proposals for two different sites. The design responds to the site’s particular flooding constraints, resulting in an elevated form that connects down to the ground plane with a curved feature stair.
Full height glass walls open the library out to the public car park and the street, while a solid wall protects the internal spaces from the harsh western sun. Controlled openings to the north east provide outlook and daylight for the library workers while protecting them from the elevated rail line.
The tenets of flexibility and adaptable use dictate the design of the library’s internal spaces. A large open floor plate maximises passive surveillance and interaction and creates a sense of openness and engagement.