The Everton Park Library is an exemplar of considerate site design, supportive local ecologies, and advocacy of protecting our most valuable natural assets. With a design grounded in the retention of a network of mature canopy trees parkside, and the creation of a new Brush Box and Myrtle forest streetside, the design response presents an enhanced model of delivering community infrastructure that is embedded within our local park assets. Utilising invaluable existing green infrastructure, the new Everton Park Library creates a front door within a parkland and envelops the building within an extended native forest of flowering understorey and lush canopies.
The combined canopy spread of the existing and new trees now provides an extensive shaded area (70% of the site coverage) which contributes to the health and wellbeing of visitors, employees, local fauna and pedestrians. This shade is significantly more effective than built structures and the focus on natural shade will provide numerous benefits, including; ambient air cooling, air quality, physical and mental health effects, fauna habitats, local ecological balance, and greater social interaction.
Utilising an entirely native plant palette to minimise maintenance and irrigation requirements (fed by rainwater tanks), the landscape responds to the site and its locality, utilising species that would naturally flourish. Understanding overland flow, shade and sun impacts, a plant list was developed that offered the best chance for success and connection to surrounding local ecologies.
