In the rustic sweep of the Hunter Valley, where paddocks meet Pinot and civic life unfolds at a slower pace, a new architectural gesture has emerged. 

The Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre by BKA Architecture is a community platform and a quietly expressive civic landmark that extends the cultural offering of the region while honouring its deep local ties.

BKA’s approach to the project was shaped by the environmental conditions of the site combined with a strong collaboration with local voices and a diverse project control group comprising community members from across the region. “The project, in its entirety, was considered as an artwork,” BKA Architecture director Allison Burrows says. “Connections, form, material palette and scale were all driven by the desire to recognise and nurture the future development of local artists and the wider community.”

Material clarity, sculptural form

The building’s expressive profile rises just behind Singleton’s existing Visitor Information Centre, its red steel-clad studios and sloping rooflines revealing themselves gradually to those travelling along the New England Highway. With an intentional modesty, BKA chose to place the building behind the original structure so as not to dominate the site. The two communicate through a shared courtyard and a carefully calibrated series of spatial alignments and material interventions.

“It was a fundamental part of our brief from the beginning,” Burrows explains. “We upgraded the existing centre with minimal but considered touches, like painting, screening and a new reception fitout, so that both buildings could hold their own identity while working together as a whole.”

The material language is robust. Tilt-up concrete walls establish a grounded base, their heavy surface offset by lighter steel roofing and exposed beams above. Technically, these materials were chosen for their thermal performance – clear structural spans and natural finishes – but they also contribute to the building’s civic presence, with the concrete providing durability and calm, while the steel articulates the roofline and creates moments of vivid contrast.

Flexibility and future focus

Central to the building’s design is its capacity to adapt. The main gallery space accommodates both permanent and touring exhibitions, including works from Cessnock Council’s extensive collection, which were previously stored in makeshift conditions across multiple locations. Modular walls, reconfigurable display zones and open space allow the gallery to shift in scale and orientation as needed.

“The exhibition space needed to do many things,” says Burrows. “It had to host larger travelling shows and serve the local community, so we used movable walls, display areas in corridors and a structural system that could allow for future expansion without looking like an afterthought.”

The design also incorporates dedicated artists’ studios, each with wet areas and a distinctive form and colour scheme. These sit slightly apart from the main gallery, their vivid red cladding and angular roof forms reinforcing the identity of the centre as a creative landmark.

Performance through design

Energy efficiency was integral to the project from the earliest stages. BKA engaged a JV3 energy modelling process to guide key decisions around materials, mechanical systems and overall building performance. Specialised systems with humidification control were selected to meet gallery standards, while photovoltaic panels and passive design strategies help reduce operational costs over time.

“Modelling informs everything,” says Burrows. “It gave us clarity on what materials to choose, how to manage budget and which systems would deliver the best result over the life of the building.”

Built with, and for, community

The centre’s location on a floodplain required the gallery floor level to be raised and carefully integrated with the broader site. Entry points from both the courtyard and the Visitor Information Centre encourage visitors to circulate across the complex, revealing artworks both indoors and out. A punctured concrete wall between the gallery and sculpture court creates framed glimpses and extends the experience of viewing beyond the threshold.

For Burrows and the BKA team, the Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre reflects not just a design ambition but a shared civic project.

“To receive a commendation at the Newcastle Architecture Awards was an honour,” she says. “This was a project grounded in community from day one. It’s a place where art, architecture and local identity come together.”

Images by Brett Boardman Photography

For another inspiring art story, read about Sydney’s ‘Black Women Rising’ sculpture