Birtinya Library & Arts Space: Data-Driven Placemaking & Co-Design

The Context

Birtinya is a rapidly developing master-planned community on the Sunshine Coast facing a critical urban challenge: creating a genuine sense of “soul” and community connection in a greenfield environment. Sunshine Coast Council required a foundational strategy to guide the architectural design of the future Library and Arts Development Space. The objective was to move beyond generic community centre models and deliver a facility that responded to the specific demographic, environmental, and historical context of the Wallum Country landscape while deeply engaging the future users of the space.

The Collaboration

POMO operated as the lead creative placemaking strategist, working in a tightly integrated consortium with Fourfold Studio (Engagement & Activation Leads) and Guymer Bailey Architects (Architecture & Landscape).

This project moved beyond standard consultation; we executed a high-level co-design methodology. Rather than working in silos, POMO, Fourfold, and Guymer Bailey ran collaborative workshops where strategic place data, community activation plans, and architectural constraints were debated and resolved in real-time with stakeholders.

Delivering Birtinya: The Implementation Process

Our approach bridged the gap between high-level aspirations and the technical spatial requirements needed by the design team. We translated cultural narratives and statistical data into specific functional requirements through a structured engagement process.

Integrated Co-Design Charettes: We co-facilitated multi-disciplinary design charettes where stakeholders worked directly with architects and activation leads. This involved “real-time” testing of spatial layouts against the “Place Identity” data we had gathered. For example, we stress-tested how the “Living Room” concept would physically function during a busy weekend market versus a quiet weekday study session.
Demographic Stress-Testing: We analysed Census data and 2041 population projections to engineer detailed user personas (such as “The Empty Nesters” and “The Young Professional”). These profiles were used during workshops to validate design decisions, ensuring the facility would physically accommodate specific needs—from accessibility requirements for seniors to digital connectivity for remote workers.
Spatial Zoning Framework: We developed the “Living Room” concept to zone the precinct into distinct functional areas with specific infrastructure needs. This included detailing power and waste requirements for “The Street” (food truck zone), acoustic specifications for “The Deck” (outdoor dining), and drainage engineering for “The Backyard” (water play).
Climate & Environmental Resilience: The strategy integrated a “Future Trends” analysis, addressing sea-level rise and the urban heat island effect. We specified landscape interventions such as green arbours and “solar trees” to provide essential shade and off-grid power, ensuring the facility remains functional in a changing sub-tropical climate.
Cultural Infrastructure Translation: We moved beyond tokenistic theming by defining the botanical and spatial requirements for a “Wallum Country Garden.” This involved specifying native plant palettes (Banksias, Paperbarks) and identifying locations for bush tucker gardens that serve both an educational and ecological function.
Temporary Uses: We envisioned a temporary use strategy for the site that would involve community and be founded on key cultural and place insights. This series of activations would keep the community engaged and facilitate a way to test and trial some of the permanent outcomes on the site such as makers facilities, food and beverage and active recreation.

The Impact

The Birtinya Library Placemaking Analysis provided a tangible, actionable brief for the architectural and landscape teams. By defining the “software” of the place (activities, culture, users) through rigorous co-design before the “hardware” (buildings) was finalised, we ensured the final asset would deliver immediate social value. The report serves as a benchmark for how data-driven placemaking and genuine co-design can de-risk infrastructure investment by ensuring community facilities are built for the people who will actually use them.

Sustainability Outcomes

Environmentally Sustainable Outcomes

Recognition and Restoration of Natural Landscapes: The project acknowledges the area’s history as Wallum Country, which was known for its heathland and wildflowers. A key historical lesson was the importance of coastal dunes; after a cyclone in 1972 washed away sections of the foreshore due to dune removal, developers were forced to raise the dune heights and add a vegetation buffer, a practice that influences the landscape today.
Conservation and Environmental Activism: The report highlights the historical role of conservationists like Kathleen McArthur and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, who successfully lobbied to preserve native wildflowers and vegetation in Kawana.
Proposed Reintroduction of Native Flora: The design thinking for the future development includes specific proposals to re-establish the area’s natural heritage through the creation of a “Wallum Country Garden” with native wildflowers, Paperbarks, and Banksias, as well as a “Bush Tucker Garden”.
Sustainable Design Proposals: Future plans for the space incorporate modern sustainable technologies, including proposals for:
- Sustainable water capture and recycling for water-play areas.
- The use of “solar trees” and solar-roofed shade structures to power lights on the site.
- A plastic recycling program where recycled plastic is used to create filament for a 3D printer, which can then create useful items and art.

Socially Sustainable Outcomes

Fostering Community and Social Connection: A core goal of the project is to create a central “living room” for the community where people can come together to share experiences and form connections. The plan is designed to serve all age groups through multi-generational activities and spaces.
Development of a Health and Education Hub: The area has been strategically developed as a health and knowledge precinct, incorporating hospitals and health institutes. This has created an ecosystem that integrates work and social life, attracting professionals and fostering a culture of active lifestyles and communal gathering.
Creation of a Vibrant Nighttime and Food Economy: The project supports the area’s evolution into a destination with a focus on entertainment and dining. This is evident in the inclusion of spaces for food vans and markets, communal dining areas, and venues for live music and performances.
Celebrating Local History, Arts, and Culture: The report’s ultimate purpose is to ensure the development is place-driven and brings the Sunshine Coast’s culture, art, and heritage to life. Proposed uses for the new space include art exhibits, an artist-in-residence program, and outdoor displays sharing local stories and Indigenous history.
Promoting an Active and Recreational Lifestyle: Building on Kawana’s history of sport and recreation, the proposed design includes numerous facilities that encourage an active lifestyle, such as a skate park, a “Fit Path” running track, spaces for exercise classes like yoga and tai chi, and kayak and bike racks.
Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity: The design thinking explicitly includes provisions for accessibility, such as wheelchair-accessible tables and ramp access to raised decks, ensuring people of all abilities can use the spaces. The project also considers the needs of diverse demographics, including people with disabilities, through its planning.