Set on a small island on Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia the Milson Island Sports Stadium goes to great lengths to engage with the environment. The building is used for sports activities and performance and is a organic backdrop for camp assembly set in the natural confines of the island. Allen Jack + Cottier Architects designed an oval shaped span with a plywood skin for a 30% lighter structure to simplify erection on the site which is accessed only by boat.

The stadium was set to the side of an open area as not to become overbearing on the site. The oval shape is glazed the bottom four feet in vision glass for children to have a direct connection to the outside. Interior light bleeds out night to illuminate the adjacent land but cuts glare and avoids light pollution. Natural light is filtered into the interior by a series of roof skylights set above grills.

The sloping roof turns in slightly more than vertical to direct rain water into basins but reject debris. The circular roof also creates a natural draft modeled by computer simulations. Air enters by prevailing breezes through vent grills which run the entire length of the floor perimeter and is released through 12 turbine vents at the apex of the roof. The soft shape, natural materials and connectivity reinforce the objective for visiting children to commune with nature .

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