Desinged by Sam Crawford Architects
Mature native trees shaped a Randwick community hall by Sam Crawford Architects.
According to director Sam Crawford, the site of the new Matraville Youth and Community Hall contained 18 mature native trees – a mix of banksia, paperbark, blackbutt and casuarina. The design process was both “extremely challenging and very rewarding”, but Crawford says his team appreciated Randwick Council’s commitment to sustainability throughout.
Site and Structure
The hall replaces a rundown 1950s steel-framed structure on the site of a former migrant hostel, which had served as a local meeting venue until recent years. Its inverted L‑shaped layout knits together a corner site and a crown reserve, allowing mature native trees—including a beloved blackbutt that shaped the entry sequence—to be retained and celebrated. Residential in scale and materiality, the design sits comfortably within the landscape. As SCA’s Ben Chan notes, “It is enveloped by the stunning trees, and a beacon at night when lit from within.”
A Mixed use Building for The Community
The hall replaces a rundown 1950s steel-framed structure on the site of a former migrant hostel, which had served as a local meeting venue until recent years. Its inverted L‑shaped layout knits together a corner site and a crown reserve, allowing mature native trees—including a much‑loved blackbutt that shaped the entry sequence—to be retained and celebrated. Residential in scale and materiality, the design sits comfortably within the surrounding context. As SCA project architect Ben Chan notes, “The building sits comfortably in the existing landscape, enveloped by the stunning trees, and is a beacon at night when lit from within.”
Matraville’s Materials
SCA selected robust, tactile, sustainable materials for Matraville Youth and Community Hall. The structure uses glue-laminated plantation hardwood timbers and Australian hardwood flooring, while the exterior features painted brick, Zincalume steel, and polycarbonate that reflect the coastal environment. Large windows, stack-effect ventilation, polycarbonate insulated walls, ceiling fans, and underfloor heating ensure natural light, insulation, and year-round comfort. The thoughtful materiality earned a Timber Design Award nomination in the Public Buildings category.
