Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre

Located on Phillip Island, Jackson Clements Burrows’ Berninneit engages in a material dialogue that draws visitors to showcase the region’s rich history and culture. Highly commended in the Horbury Hunt Commercial Award at the Think Brick Awards 2024, the build supports a range of uses including a theatre, library, gallery, museum, community function rooms and offices.

A dynamic spatial fluidity links an auditorium, multi-purpose spaces, library, gallery, museum, meeting rooms and council offices with retained mature eucalypts to form a community courtyard. Stepping through this space reveals a two-storey hospitality space lined by a laminated mountain ash colonnade with spotted gum flooring and warm, blackbutt-faced walling. Designed to Passivhaus Standards, the building’s envelope is low energy, low carbon, and thermally efficient to significantly reduce operational energy consumption.  

Sustainable materials are also locally sourced including carbon-neutral bricks from Wollert and Gippsland grown hardwood to further reduce the carbon footprint. The warm, pink cream of Brickworks’ Nubrik Australis Murray Sunset played a crucial role in bringing together the cultural and environmental aspects of the region. The selection was driven by its ability to reference nearby sand dunes and beaches, whilst the internal timber columns speak to the island’s jetties and pier structures.

“The warm, pink cream of Brickworks’ Nubrik Australis Murray Sunset played a crucial role in bringing together the cultural and environmental aspects of the region,”

The DECLARE Label and Red List Free brickwork creates a robust and welcoming structure. The brickwork not only withstands the challenges of the local climate but also contributes to the building's longevity. Inside, the feature brick wall enhances the cultural atmosphere while helping to naturally regulate the temperature, minimising the need for energy-intensive climate control systems.

Drawing on the diverse qualities of brick, Berninneit strikes a balance between contemporary design and traditional community aesthetics. With materials that seamlessly connect the interior and exterior spaces, this centre fosters a sense of unity and purpose, establishing a vibrant hub for cultural exchange within its tranquil environment.