Another Integrated Medical Centre

The applicant is seeking consent to upgrade the building and establish an Integrated Health Centre.

The proposal modifies the existing showroom to create a 5m high entry point, reception and waiting facility. Ground floor glazing is retained and extend into the new buildings The single level extension to Thackeray St is designed as an elegant pavilion. The 2 level Anglesea wing extends as a strong form emphasising the Thackeray St corner, signalling the point of access and the pedestrian plaza space. The ground floor extends the glazing of the existing buildings. 

Landscape elements are introduced into the existing 100% concrete paving in a form that contributes to the urban context of the development by extending the existing language of Thackeray St planting. 

The proposal presents a visually strong and welcoming aspect to Anglesea/Thackeray Streets, and establishes an appropriate built development on this corner, that will be an appropriate contribution to the urban fabric of Hamilton CBD. 

Building Design:

1. The design should make a clear urban statement of purpose – and respond to the heavily trafficked Anglesea St from which it will primarily be read.
2. The design should recognise existing and future adjacencies – and contribute to the urban fabric.
3. The building must present a reassuring and confident aspect to visitors who may at times be arriving under stressful conditions.
4. The point of arrival, access, parking and movement through must be clearly visible.

The location is on an easily identified street, within the CBD, easily accessible and in a part of the city identified with the provision of medical services. The existing car sales use has vehicle access from both Anglesea and Thackeray. We considered access from Anglesea to be problematic given the traffic volumes – and potentially confusing and disorienting – so vehicle access is limited to the 6m existing crossing 30m down Thackeray St. This enables a comfortable circulation pattern, easily related to the building entry. It also provides for emergency ambulance access in an unobstructed location.

The concept of locating reception and central facilities at the junction of two ‘arms’ that extend to the street frontages makes a clear statement of function. We propose modifying the existing showroom roof and glazing to create a visual ‘hinge. The L shaped reception which results (still subject in detail to internal planning) in patient waiting areas that can reflect different uses and destinations. The 9m wide wings optimise existing building re-use, while providing optimum subdivisable dimensions where required for medical functions.

Given the probability that the pharmacy/coffee shop will occupy the Ground Floor of the Anglesea wing, the glazed frontage establishes an appropriate relationship between parking and provider accommodation.   It also presents an activated frontage to the visiting public.

The proposal modifies the existing showroom to create a 5m high ‘hinge’ between two level wings extending to Anglesea (extending the existing structure), and Thackeray (with a two level new build in the existing grid dimensions). These wings retain the existing ground floor glazing, and on the new upper floors use a rhythm of ‘solid and void’ to establish a strong, simple and legible built form. They affirm the fung shui maxim ‘to make a strong horizontal use a line of verticals’. So these two visually strong arms extending from a glazed ‘hinge’ presents a visually strong and welcoming aspect to Anglesea/Thackeray Streets. Additionally it establishes an appropriate built element on this corner, leading comfortably into adjacent development.