The Challenge
Creating an exhibition centre within the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens meant working in a World Heritage-listed environment where every detail mattered. The design called for a suspended concrete roof that would support a planted garden above – essentially a living green roof that blended with the surrounding landscape.
Add to that curved glass walls, custom skylights, lift access for accessibility and the need to coordinate closely with garden staff constructing basalt stone walls and water-course features around the building. The set-out alone was one of the most complex we’ve undertaken.
Making It Happen
The roof structure required post-tensioned concrete to support the planted garden above, with extensive waterproofing to protect the exhibition space below. Every detail of the curved glass wall and balustrades needed precise execution to meet the architectural vision. Completed in 2010, the irrigated rooftop garden has flourished and remained watertight ever since.
The custom skylights – oval shapes clad in copper – were fabricated to transition from vertical to ceiling, flooding the interior with natural light. We coordinated air conditioning, a projector, automatic screen and window blinds into a seamless interior fit-out, while working alongside the gardens team on the external landscape features.
The Result
The Heritage Exhibition Centre gives visitors a heightened experience and understanding of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Surrounded by a world-class collection of plants with sweeping panoramic views of the region, it’s become a landmark destination.