Selected Project
Palmerston North Youth Centre
The site is located on a narrow corridor of condensed buildings within a café precinct in Palmerston North. The existing building’s interior was stripped of all usable elements by the previous tenants; with the project essentially inherited as a ‘new’ build. The need for a youth space arose partly from the lack of facilities within the city catering for the intended age group, and the requirement to create an identifiable focal point for youth orientated activities. This ‘focal point’ was developed through a minuscule budget with the analogy of ‘beg, borrow and steal’ forever prevalent. Early on a ‘zero wastage’ policy was adapted to mitigate cost concerns, with material scraps being infused into the next phase. The overall concept was designed around four core programmes, Media, Library, Café and Social. Each programme was superimposed and layered over the other without essentially being ‘read’ as isolated. This allowed the core components to communicate through visual glimpses of each space which also aided aspects of ‘visual security’ within the building. This meant that ‘youth’ could make themselves at home, as the core spaces were designed to be flexible and able to support multiple adaptive uses. Opportunities for seating and working are provided, but the end user can vary the degree of privacy and user sociability. This arrangement not only promotes a socially and culturally inclusive dynamic, but it allows the spatial opportunities within the space to be extended Synonymous with youth culture, the design was also in a continuous state of flux and transformation. It not only had to encapsulate the often emotional and transient states of youth, but it required an equilibrium between their inherent need for ‘things’ morbid; whilst maintaining solid design principles of light and colour. This juxtaposition was created through black stained Keruing plywood joinery contrasted against white backlit Perspex screens and carefully selected accent colours. Additionally, as the library had always been seen as the ‘heart’ of the build, a simple metaphoric representation of a pulsing heartbeat was incorporated into a Perspex wall that rhythmically lightens and then fades over the space. Overall the aim of this concept was to develop a programme that responded to known architectural languages balanced against new emerging sensations in order to capture the essence of current youth culture.
- Category
- Community & Cutural
- Location
