- Office: 07 4041 1394
- Email: info@studiomango.com.au
- Location: 457 Draper Street, Parramatta Park, Cairns QLD 4870
Kuranda Medical Service was being run from a rented converted Queenslander that was decidedly imperfect but had forged strong links with the local Community Health team to provide a better primary health service to Kuranda, and in particular Kuranda’s Indigenous population. When the need arose to relocate, KMS had a vision of a new, functional and welcoming building that would facilitate public and private health care collaboration and fit in with the unique character of the ‘Village in the Rainforest’.
A sloping site was purchased just off the main street that had a small existing building above an old creek line. Given the tight budget, a proposal was developed that re-used the existing building and extended it (by 200%) over the lower level that was turned into an undercroft car park. The existing building’s car park was used for additional parking, wheelchair access and emergency vehicles.
A shared verandah, reception and office space was placed between the old building and the new. This makes the grand architectural gesture with a high level roof, out flung verandah, and contrasting claddings. The new extension is a very simple and cost effective timber box with a gable roof pitched to the match the existing, but with a vaulted ceiling to increase ceiling heights.
The old building was converted to consulting rooms for Community Health, staff amenities and a shared meeting room, while the new extension contained accessible toilets and a simple double banked line of consulting rooms for practice GPs and visiting consultants.
Small touches of texture, such as ribbed glass, battened ceilings, patterned vinyl floors, and varied claddings, along with huge splashes of colour make this a very Kuranda building.
The building was designed to be able to be naturally ventilated in the cooler months, the central reception has high windows for hot air ventilation and natural light, and the consulting rooms have casement windows with obscure glass for privacy, that when open catch the mountain views. Rooms are individually insulated and air conditioned so that only the minimum number of spaces need cooling.
The construction is mostly plantation timber framed, and reusing the existing building saved resources.
Mango team: James Maude, Glenn Howe, Su Groome
Structural Engineer: Chas Gianarakis
Hydraulic Engineer: Gilboy Hydraulics
Builder: Iezzi Constructions