Juanita Nielsen Community Centre
Juanita Nielsen was a recognised and admired publisher and community rights activist. Commissioned by The City of Sydney, our external signage work in conjunction with architects Neeson Murcutt Neille for the refurbished Woolloomooloo community centre named in her honour reflects her strong-willed character.
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Juanita Nielsen Community Centre
Solar signs
Juanita Nielsen was a recognised and admired publisher and community rights activist. She was known for her forthright nature and tenacity in lobbying against the destruction of the iconic 10th century terraces along Victoria Street in Potts Point in the 1970s. Commissioned by The City of Sydney, our external signage work in conjunction with architects Neeson Murcutt Neille for the refurbished Woolloomooloo community centre named in her honour reflects her strong-willed character. Just one feature is the typographic cut outs in awnings which allow the sun to project messaging onto the footpath. A feature that’s difficult for passers by to ignore.
Architecture awards
As the first community centre to be upgraded as part of the City’s plan to revitalise their existing suite of community centres, the Juanita Nielsen centre was positioned to set the bar showcasing the level of community engagement that can occur within a best practice community centre. We worked with Neeson Murcutt Neille to deliver a series of sign forms which from the external view nestled into the building, aligning with column and facade lines. The redevelopment has been recognised at the 2017 NSW Architecture Awards winning three awards, the Greenway Award for Heritage Architecture, the John Verge Award for Interior Architecture and the Public Architecture Award.
Changeability and interaction
Inside, we used a series of blackboard signs and graphics for easy changeability and interaction for a wide range of events, like yoga and drawing classes. These signs extend out onto signage and graphics, helping to make the centre feel alive. Our environmental and interpretive graphics were also applied to external façades including painted text to brickwork and graphics to garden planter beds. In combination with Neeson Murcutt Neille’s architecture, the signage and graphics help celebrate an iconic woman and represent her endeavours in community engagement.
