Patyegarang Place with a New Library and Pavilion Revitalizing a Hospital for Sydney’s Inner West Community

Abstract

A new library and pavilion have been built for Sydney’s Inner West community from an abandoned hospital building. Following on from an invited design excellence competition, the public was invited to vote for their favourite designs. The Inner West Council selected the design proposal by architects BVN for its originality and approach to blending the heritage-listed buildings with a contemporary structure. Situated on the old Marrickville Hospital, the development established opportunities for urban revitalisation by retaining and embracing the previously abandoned hospital building, adding to it a new building which transforms the site into a new community hub. The heritage-listed Marrickville Hospital building has been carefully refurbished internally and externally, forming the administration areas, small meeting rooms, collection and study areas with outdoor reading areas along newly reinstated verandas. Connected to the old hospital building is a new structure which provides open areas to meet, work, learn and socialise, including a foyer, café, function space, learning rooms, technology area and dedicated junior and youth areas.