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Walumba Elders Centre

Property

Project Type / Category
Aged Care
End Client
Fire & Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
Architect
iredale pedersen hook architects
Contractor
Norbuilt
Project Location
Warmun
Project Completion
August 2014
Value Engineering Solution
  • Suspended slab to reduce fill.
  • Local materials.
Unique Design Items
  • Flood resilient design.
  • Remote area construction.
  • Piled foundations.
Awards
  • Winner, 2017 American Architecture Prize - Architectural Design / Healthcare Architecture (Awarded to iredale pedersen hook architects)
  • Winner, 2016 Architecture of Necessity international competition (Awarded to iredale pedersen hook architects)
  • Winner, 2016 AZ International Award in the Social Good category (Awarded to iredale pedersen hook architects)
  • Winner, 2016 The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies international Architecture Award (Awarded to iredale pedersen hook architects)
  • 2015 World Architecture Festival, Health Award (Awarded to iredale pedersen hook architects)

In March 2011 water from Turkey Creek inundated the Aboriginal community of Warmun after record heavy rainfall in the area resulted in the evacuation of 400 people, destruction of 85 houses and major damage to infrastructure and facilities in the community.

As part of the reconstruction of essential government services for the community, Pritchard Francis provided civil and structural engineering services to a number of projects including the Aged Care Facility.

The Walumba Elders Centre facility consisted of an elevated, suspended concrete floor which was raised to suit the specified flood levels required for the site. The foundations for the suspended slab system extend to the underlying bed-rock material to improve the robustness of the building in the event that flood waters rise around the facility. During the design phase Pritchard Francis liaised with the Department of Water to determine the required floor level to provide suitable protection to rising flood water.

This facility will be used to provide accommodation and services to elderly community residents and includes gender separated accommodation and activity areas, integration of external space and has provisions to support traditional Aboriginal ceremonies.