Mon Repos Turtle Centre | Now Open
The grand opening of the new Mon Repos Turtle Centre in Bundaberg was held on Saturday 23rd of November, 2019.
View ArticleCultural & Public, Interior Architecture, Performance Based Design
Mon Repos Awarded JW Wilson Award | Building of the Year
KIRK has been awarded the JW Wilson Award for Building of the Year for the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.
Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Bargara Queensland occupies a sensitive beachside location within a conservation park. The Mon Repos beach and environs is the most important turtle nesting ground in Australia and has been a key research Centre for over 40 years.
The project scope included the master planning of the entire beachside environs to manage vehicle and pedestrian movement within the sensitive coastal landscape which is one of the most significant seasonal nesting grounds for the loggerhead turtle.
Regional Jury Citation:
KIRK Architects have created a building that is a delight to visit. The internal spaces reflect and respectfully respond to its natural setting, with coastal colours, textures and materials. The timber structure and 'beach' floors [honed concrete] put visitors at ease and blur the line between inside and out. Upon arrival, the dimmed light of the entrance enhances expectations. Additionally, the acoustic ply diagrid ceiling implies the visitor is in Turtle Territory, with its turtle carapace like pattern.
The architects have used materials that are sustainable, recyclable, long wearing and able to withstand the corrosive sea air. The copper cladding and timber help tie the building into its setting naturally. As the landscaping matures, this facility will somewhat disappear, leaving elements to project onto pathways enticing visitors to enter.
View Mon Repos Turtle Centre Project for more information.
