WESTBURY TRANSFORMATION & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The Westbury Transformation & Development Centre (TDC) grapples with the issue of spatial and social justice in a marginalised community, while simultaneously providing crucial social infrastructure. The mixed-use public building incorporated heritage buildings and houses a variety of social development programmes, such as a senior citizens daycare, food security unit, greenhouse, migrant unit, Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD), and offices. The project is centred around creating smaller safe spaces within a larger programme, while providing a generous public space along the street edge of the narrow site, to be used by the community for social activities.

The external façade is intentionally dark and used the ‘shou sugi ban’ charred timber technique, but as you enter the courtyard, you are immersed in bursts of colour — the world of a child. Bold formal colours and textural gestures are employed in the pursuit of creating a ‘pride of place’ and shifting perceptions of the neighbourhood. The result is a landmark building with an overall playful yet complex set of architectural values that satisfy client, community, and resilient urban and social futures.