Phillips/Pilkington Architects

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McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Centre

Monarto Zoo Visitor Centre

Gum Park Homestead Redevelopment

Innes National Park
Visitor Centre

Adelaide Townhouse

Marion Cultural Centre

Living Kaurna Cultural Centre

McCormick Centre for the Environment

Woodcroft College Gymnasium

MADEC Mildura

Seymour College
Performing Arts Centre

Woodcroft College Admin Building

McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Visitor Centre, 1994 -1996

The McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Visitor Centre has been developed as a gateway to the region, with a cafe, wine tasting, tourism information and exhibitions. The building sits like a winery within a landscape of vineyards, almonds and olives. The rammed earth wall and structural frame of recycled timber, together with the other natural materials, such as local slate and stone, help create an iconic destination.

The building includes a shop, selling local produce, crafts, local histories and books on the region. It also functions as a headquarters for the McLaren Vale Winemakers Inc. and is used for functions as well as administration. The project became a focus for community involvement and sponsorship with the stone for the tower, chimney and entrance provided from a local winemaker’s property, the vineyard planted and maintained by the wine industry and the landscaping largely sponsored by local nurseries with community planting and maintenance.

The building employs the following strategies to minimise environmental impact:
• Use of low embodied energy materials including locally sourced rammed earth and stone.
• Use of plantation grown timber roof trusses.
Use of recycled timbers for main structural framing and joinery.
• On-site treatment of waste water, recycled for irrigation.
• Orientation of building to maximise solar performance.
• Collection of rainwater.
• On site retention of stormwater.
The facilities are extensively used for conferences and meetings.

This project won a Civic Trust Award for Buildings in their Setting and was displayed in the 40 UP Exhibition, an international touring exhibition featuring the work of 40 young Australian Architects.