Kurilpa Community Centre

As part of ARCH7043 - my final design studio in the Master of Architecture program at The University of Queensland, led by Aaron Peters and Stuart Vokes of Vokes and Peters - I explored how the Kurilpa Hall and the 97-year-old, state heritage-listed Kurilpa Library in Brisbane’s West End could be thoughtfully reimagined to continue serving the local community. Framed by the concept of tabula plena, the studio challenged us to work with what already exists, rather than starting from a blank slate.

My approach preserved and reactivated both buildings as adaptive, reusable civic assets. Instead of erasing the past, the design embraced the embedded character of each building - transforming them into places for learning, gathering, and everyday life. The intent was to create a place where people could dwell, linger, play, and feel a deep sense of ownership and belonging. The design focused on ensuring long-term accessibility and relevance, positioning the buildings as vital contributors to West End’s evolving civic identity.

A key driver of the project was designing through a human-scale lens - paying close attention to how people intuitively occupy space. Whether it’s leaning against a wall, sitting on a ledge, or perching on a step, these small, informal acts of use informed the architectural gestures. I also looked to the awning typologies of Boundary Street, where life often unfolds at the edge, and explored how this could be translated into a community centre context. The goal was to blur boundaries between inside and out, public and private, to create a welcoming, generous architecture.

Ultimately, the project reinforced the value of working with heritage constraints and the everyday rituals that make architecture meaningful. Stairs became seats, windows became thresholds, and awnings offered shelter - subtle interventions that honour what’s there while inviting new life in.