Bluegum Community Centre
The City of Melville partnered with Modus Australia to replace an outdated toilet building at Bluegum Community Centre, delivering a durable, accessible Capricorn 3 facility with custom biomorphic graphics, modern materials and strong architectural integration to enhance the precinct’s wider redevelopment.
- Principal:
- Modus Australia
- Client:
- City of Melville, Renascent
- Product/s:
- Capricorn 3
- Year:
- 2025
The Bluegum Community Centre serves as a vital hub for the Brentwood community in Perth's southern suburbs. As part of a comprehensive site revamp including tennis court upgrades and community centre improvements, the City of Melville identified the need to replace an existing brick toilet building that had become outdated, worn down, and no longer met current compliance standards. The council partnered with Renascent and Modus Australia to deliver modern public toilet facilities that would complement the broader redevelopment. The city's long-standing partnership with Modus Australia, built through previous successful projects, made this a natural collaboration.
What were the design requirements for Bluegum Community Centre?
The facility needed to integrate aesthetically with existing infrastructure whilst providing durable, secure, and accessible amenities for a high-traffic community location.
The building needed to address multiple requirements specific to its location near schools, parks, and busy community spaces:
- Aesthetic integration: Seamless coordination with existing bike rails, street furniture, and the upgraded community centre building
- Architectural design: The City of Melville specifically requested the Capricorn building style for its distinctive concave curved roofline and architectural rolled steelwork
Refurb vs Replace: Is a patch-up costing you more?
How do you watch public toilets to existing site design?
Custom vinyl graphics and coordinated colour schemes create visual continuity between the toilet building and surrounding infrastructure.
Modus Australia delivered a custom Capricorn 3 toilet building with distinctive external graphics. Working with the City of Melville and artist Marisa Santosa (Marzland), we developed vinyl graphics in a Contemporary Biomorphic Abstraction style. This approach uses organic, flowing forms that subtly reference native Blue Gum flora and nearby wetlands without literal imagery.
The abstract design creates a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere whilst maintaining timeless appeal. The colour palette coordinates with existing blue-toned graphics on the community centre and street furniture throughout the site, ensuring the toilet building feels like an integrated part of the precinct rather than an afterthought.
What materials ensure durability in high-traffic public toilets?
Powdercoated aluminium cladding, porcelain interior sheeting, and stainless steel fixtures provide long-term durability with minimal maintenance requirements.
- Exterior: Powdercoated aluminium cladding with recycled content, including Capral's LocAl Green billet
- Interior walls: Porcelain sheeting in Balastina colourway within cubicles for easy cleaning and premium appearance
What facilities does the building include?
- Universal Access Toilet: Ample space for wheelchair users, families with young children, and individuals requiring assistance
- 2 Ambulant cubicles: Each fitted with two grabrails for stability and support
- Service area: Storage and facilities for maintenance staff to maintain hygiene standards
An Outstanding Result
The Bluegum Community Centre toilet building provides the City of Melville with a distinctive, expertly designed public amenity that enhances the broader site redevelopment. The custom vinyl graphics create cohesive visual identity across the precinct whilst the Capricorn's architectural design adds a contemporary landmark feature. Durable materials and thoughtful design ensure the facility will serve the community effectively whilst minimising maintenance requirements for years to come.
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