A key destination for the 18 thousand residents in the area, the environmentally aware centre provides convenience and destination shopping. Working closely with the client, Buchan’s design for the 1,900sqm building sympathises with Rolleston’s rural and residential environment, both in scale and material. Natural raw finished materials such as concrete, ply, glass and galvanised steel have been used, while the mono-pitch roof allows control of building height at the boundaries. Extensive hard and soft landscaping brings pleasure to visitors.
Originally the site of a commercial orchard, the location of the building against the boundary provides social cohesion between the residential and retail zones. The community use, destination tenant and increased hours of operation due to the new medical facilities, café and 24-hour gym strategically located at the ends and core of the building combine to activate the external environment.
