waters edge

Lahznimmo Architects and Spackman and Mossop Landscape architects formed a joint venture (LNSM) to provide the Sydney Catchment Authority with architectural, urban design and landscape services for the preparation of the Warragamba Dam Masterplan. The Visitor Centre and Operations Complex is located at the end of Haviland Park, to take advantage of the spectacular location which overlooks Warragamba Dam. The building has two primary functions; firstly to Haviland Park and the second to the Spillway and Dam wall. For Haviland Park, the landscape is emphasised and the building is downplayed and sunk down from the park level allowing the existing vista through Haviland Park to be maintained. The Architects left the landform to allow a gently rise creating a new green horizon line at the end of the vista. Looking from the cliff, the building is more expressive and as it hovers dramatically on the edge of the cliff face with a series of public viewing platforms which utilise the different rock shelf levels. The building comprises two key components; the first is a Visitor Information Centre with a large multi purpose education room and exhibition component and the second is the Operations Complex which contains the Sydney Catchments Authority’s Communications Unit.