WHYALLA AMBULANCE STATION

PROJECT LEAD / SKETCH DESIGN / DESIGN DEVELOPMENT / CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. GREENWAY ARCHITECTS. UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2026. PROJECT VALUE $10M

The story of the new Whyalla Ambulance Station building design starts in Paris in 1925 when the French Government wanted to present a modern style of architecture and interiors at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. This modern architecture came to be known as Art Deco and had at its core, geometric shapes and volumes, symmetry and the use of luxurious materials. Buildings were often constructed from materials such as stucco, chrome, steel, decorative glass, terra-cotta and aluminium.

Art Deco was embraced by Whyalla during the 1940s, a time of rapid growth and wartime construction. In an era and area where much was new, it’s lack of pre-existing built context made it an ideal place for new design movements to flourish. Additionally, it had access to building materials, many of which were generally unavailable after 1940.

Transferring common Art Deco themes to the concept design, we achieve:

• Direct extrusion of practical and bespoke floor plan

• Wide frontage with vertical segmentations to the garage side – references the Art Deco prevalence in town and other local inspiration and previous Ambulance Stations

• Extruded ‘frame’ to garage side

• Striking central parapet façade with contrasting, horizontal bands

• Wide, cantilevered shading over windows

• Inset windows and doors on west face – providing depth as well as shading and weather protection

• Logical roof form

• Cladding in steel for the steel industry and providing further Art Deco reference

• Cladding in greys and reds providing contrast and separation of operations and again, referencing much of the Whyalla built form.

The Whyalla Ambulance Station is due for completion in October 2026.