Roebourne Children and Family Centre

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: The Roebourne Children and Family Centre, which opened in August 2014, was funded by Closing the Gap: Indigenous Early National Childhood Development National Partnership, the Federal Government's ongoing program to improve the lives of indigenous Australians, particularly children. Roebourne is a remote Pilbura town (pop 3500) that is 1563 kilometres north of Perth. More than 20 per cent of residents are Indigenous Australians.The centre provides childcare and a range of community programs, developed in consultation with the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: The Roebourne centre extends Iredale Pedersen Hook's longstanding commitment to designing tough, sustainable, radical buildings that nurture, enhance and sustain Indigenous cultures and kinship. This project focuses on the functional relationship between the adult multipurpose facility and the childcare centre, akin to the symbiotic relationship between parent and child. The two buildings are united by a continuous undulating canopy; a pair of arms embracing the whole. The enclosed spaces are environmentally and culturally appropriate. The are places where families can have fun and communities can gather. The design was informed by natural climate conditions, particularly prevailing breezes. The resulting buildings are sustainable and durable. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: The centre received a commendation in the Australian Insitute of Architects (AIA) Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, Western Australian chapter 2014 awards.