Leatherback Library

Brief

For this assessment we were asked to design a library in Alkimos for the City of Wanneroo Council. The library was to be
designed using Net Zero Carbon principles and to comply with the current (2023) National Construction Code (NCC). The library must include: library area (loans desk, bookshelves, photocopy area, reading spaces), librarian offices, upper mezzanine study area, multipurpose room, toilets. The new library was to be located adjacent to Alkimos Primary School and a large oval called Leatherback Park.

Proposed Site: 1 Fairy Parade, Alkimos WA

Submission: May 2023

Overview

Alkimos is a coastal suburb located 42km north-northwest of the Perth central business district. It was named after a shipwreck of the Greek freighter Alkimos that ran aground on the coast nearby in 1963 and the wreck lies approximately 410m offshore. Alkimos is a relatively new suburb as it was established in the late 2000s, and it has a population of 6,269 according to the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census. There are two Public Primary Schools (Alkimos Primary & Alkimos Beach Primary) and a Public High School (Alkimos College), as well as the St James Anglican School which caters for K-12. The Swan Coastal Plain where Alkimos is located, is known for its native banksia woodland, scrubland and heath.

Concept

1 Fairy Parade Alkimos provides an opportunity to build a sustainable community amenity that supports the local community now and in the future. Public Libraries have evolved in recent years due to developing technology and the changing needs of the community, and this building aims to continue to grow and change with these ever evolving needs.

Steps to Net Zero Carbon

Passive Design Optimisation: orientation, form factor, shading functinality and design life.
Reduce Operational Energy Demand and Consumption: low maintenance garden, facade thermal performance, sealing the building, rainwater collection tanks.
Provide Onsite Renewable Energy and Storage to Eliminate Fossil Fuels: photovoltaics, lithium-ion battery, plant spatial for services and renewables.
Limit Upfront Embodied Carbon: fly-ash concrete, mass timber (FSC Certified), recycled materials, salvaged items, locally sourced materials
Consider Whole Life Carbon in Conjunction with Whole Life Costing: design for end-of-life re-use and disassembly, waste management plan.