Saturday, 7 February 2009 was a bleak day as fires destroyed property and lives in Victoria. Referred to as Black Saturday, the fires claimed 173 lives and devastated over 2,000 homes and 3,500 structures. It is a day that has changed the lives of many in our community for ever. Narbethong in central Victoria was one of the worst hit communities. In 1939, the town was substantially damaged in the Black Friday fires; seventy years later, Black Saturday ravaged the community. At the heart of this timber-industry town was the community hall which was burnt to the ground. The local community sought assistance to rebuild their hall through Emergency Architects Australia (EAA). EAA rebuilds communities after natural or man-made disasters. The organisation works closely with local communities to understand their needs before construction begins. Its core values and mission are aligned to Arup’s commitment to charitable and humanitarian causes.

Working Together For Bush Fire Recovery

Arup and architects BVN responded to EAA’s call for engineering assistance and offered their design skills pro bono for a new building designed along more sustainable lines. For Arup, the project presented an opportunity to be directly involved in the bush fire recovery process and make a meaningful contribution to the recovery. In replacing the former weatherboard and timber-framed hall, the aim was to create a simple and transparent structure which reflected the timber industry of the town of Narbethong. More importantly, it had to fulfil its main purpose – a centre for the community’s social, sporting and town activities. The new hall was designed as a multi-purpose space to accommodate a broader range of groups and activities. As part of the recovery process, the community was engaged in the design, consultation and development of the project.

Building Sustainably

One of the greatest challenges was designing a timber hall in an area that has a very high rating of bushfire protection.