Challenge

A challenging brief was set for this project, which required us to resolve a set of dense spatial requirements within the complex constraints of the site including its steep topography, climate of extremes and locally significant heritage context. This important project, funded by the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund grant has been driven by the local community for the community and aspires to part of the healing process after the trauma of the devastating fires of 2019/20.

Response

The ambition of this project is to provide Cobargo with a mix of commercial and residential uses to support the economic recovery of the town. Three new buildings were designed to respond in form, scale, colour and materials to the character of Cobargo, while introducing better accessibility, more generous public spaces and bringing some much needed residential accommodation.

These mixed-use buildings will be robust and flexible, catering for the needs of the town now while allowing for change in the future. The project includes retail tenancies of a range of sizes, visitor information centre, allied health centre, covered market hall space and open public spaces, post office, co-working space and five, two-bedroom shop-top apartments, two of which are fully accessible and are NDIS certified.