Transforming Cradle Coast Campus
As part of the University of Tasmania’s transformation of the Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie, Tasmania, ASPECT Studios, in collaboration with Wardle and Philp Lighton Architects, designed a landscape that fosters connections among students, industry, and the community while respecting and rehabilitating the nearby coastal environment and penguin colony.
The design prioritises landscape rehabilitation, increased penguin visitation, and strengthened connections between the campus, coast, and the town of Burnie itself. Collaborating with the Burnie Little Fairy Penguin colony, protected habitats were established with carefully selected flora to enhance penguin environments and enrich the remnant foreshore vegetation.
A new pedestrian network links the campus to the coast, bordered by landscaped berms that frame views from the building and student areas, offering protection from coastal elements. Timber and steel edging were repurposed for seating and wayfinding, paying homage to the site’s rail heritage. This project seamlessly blends conservation with landscape revitalisation, complemented by the campus’ extensive green roof, developed with Fytogreen Australia Pty Ltd.
Photography: Ilya Parr, Ina Parr and Adam Gibson
