PROJECT OVERVIEW

Client:  Town of Cottesloe

Location: Cottesloe

Architect: Philip Griffiths Architects

The Cottesloe Civic Centre in Broome Street, which started life as a private residence for Judge Richard Pennefather in 1898, is undergoing another refurbishment, one of about three it has had since it was originally built.

Claude de Barnales bought the house which he named Overton Lodge in 1911 and transformed the original building into a Spanish style mansion in 1936-37. The Cottesloe Council acquired Overton Lodge in 1950.

Philip Griffiths Architects were commissioned to look at the current and future needs of the Council offices and develop a plan to inter grate these requirements into the fabric of this historic building.

The challenge facing Architect Brandon Pratley of Philip Griffiths Architects was to open up the space available for both the civic staff and the public building. Other considerations were to enhance existing design features such as the atrium and integrate environmental sustainable and energy efficient concepts into the building.

One of the major obstacles faced by the design and construction team was over the past 100 years the previous owners had extensively modified and extended the building without keeping formal records. Whilst the demolition works were in progress walls behind walls, columns, and footings were uncovered which had not been documented and required the team to develop structural solutions to overcome these issues.