◆Commercial & public
Blackwater Aquatic Centre
Central Queensland
Project Overview
Our rammed earth walls play a defining role in this large commercial project, forming the exterior of the Aquatic Centre and helping create the "oasis" the architects envisioned for a semi-arid outback setting. To reduce transport costs and embodied energy, the walls were constructed using rammed earth sourced from a nearby location, reinforcing the project's sustainability objectives.
A series of rammed earth courtyard walls provide shade and sun protection around the water features and amenities, while also screening back-of-house operations. The result is a durable, climate-responsive building that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape while delivering both functional and architectural value.
Project Story
Performance & recognition
The walls were "especially designed to control the temperature of the facility's buildings" (Hutchinson's Kevin Whittaker), create a barrier from the wind, and shelter a planted internal courtyard. The design won LiquidBlu the Australian Institute of Architects 2018 Public Architecture Award, the jury citing "the bulwark-like outer layer of rammed earth walls [that] wrap themselves around three elevations, affording refuge from the harsh environment." Hutchinson Builders won the 2017 Master Builders Project of the Year for the Central Queensland region.
