Coolbellup Former School Sites Redevelopment
The Coolbellup School Sites Redevelopment project involved the residential infill of three former schools in the southern Perth suburb of Coolbellup.
The residential infill redevelopment brings new life to three former primary schools - Coolbellup Primary School, North Lake Primary School and Koorilla Primary School.
Totalling approximately 12Ha in size (three sites of 4 hectares each), the combined development is now home to 168 residential lots set amongst a connected series of public open spaces and civic amenities.
The amenities and infrastructural elements are located and configured to encourage urban revitalisation and connectivity. The result is an urban sanctuary set within a parklands, trails and retained trees.
Ahead of the project’s inception in 2008, UDLA played an integral part alongside LandCorp in winning the bid for the original land holding for Coolbellup Primary School, North Lake Primary School and Koorilla Primary School.
A series of community focused workshops were held encouraging feedback and comment from the surrounding community.
The project included community consultation, urban design, landscape theming, tree retention and a practical public art program centred on the memory of the former school, fitness, play and imagination.
UDLA engaged with former school teachers, students and the community to determine appropriate integrations of past uses across the sites.
The grouping of old Fig Trees UDLA advocated to be retained (pictured above) from an early site visit in 2009.
Significant project outcomes include:
Successful implementation of public amenity into a previous school sites and imaginative responses through retention and recycling of existing materials to respectfully interpret the history of the sites
‘Sense of Place’ outcomes through the retention of significant existing trees and vegetation and integration of public artworks
Positive Community and Stakeholder engagement.
Retention of as many significant trees as possible and integration into spatial planning and structure to the site’s plan
High specification of materials and finishes and the creation of a contemporary design outcome that embraced innovative Masterplanning and challenged the norms/standard benchmarks
Demonstration of a variety of parks, playful and restful spaces use types within the one project.
Awards:
2015 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence - Residential Development Under 250 Lots (The Primary)
2014 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence - Affordable Development Finalist
2014 LIAWA Awards for Excellence Residential Development Under 250 Lots
Details:
Client: LendLease Communities, LandCorp
Aboriginal Country: Whadjuk Noongar Country
Location: Coolbellup, WA
Dates: 2008 - 2018
Landscape Architect: UDLA
Collaborators: Landcorp, Delfin, RPS, Creating Communities
