Don Bosco Camp

Village of opportunity
When McIldowie Partners Architects were approached to upgrade the camping amenities for Don Bosco, a charity for disadvantaged children, they took the opportunity to transform the entire camping experience.
Don Bosco Camp was established in 1945 as a summer holiday camp for disadvantaged boys and young men. Over 77 years, the camp has grown to support many schools, sporting and community organisations, and youth groups. The Salesians of Don Bosco continue to operate worldwide, with more than 20,000 members involved in over 2,700 projects.
The inclusion of additional clientele at Don Bosco Camp has allowed the camp’s mission work to expand to include additional programs for a range of disadvantaged children and community groups, including leadership programs for young people and Asylum Seeker holiday programs.
In their redesign, McIldowie Partners replaced the original old white buildings and amenities with a clustered collection of buildings linked by verandas. These include a chapel, three multi-purpose studios, expansive deck and outdoor area and a half-court gym – all situated within the camp’s original footprint to minimise environmental impact.
As Practice Director Craig Brown explains, Don Bosco’s work continues to play a vital role. ‘The Don Bosco Camp’s parent organisation is the Salesian Society, who support the poor and disadvantaged,’ he says. ‘Don Bosco’s holiday programs provide student accommodation, games facilities, fun, and opportunity for young people who may not often enjoy a holiday. It’s a caring environment but also great fun!
‘The original camp was founded in 1945 with Nissen Huts – old, leaky WWII barracks with limited facilities and terrible thermal properties,’ Craig explains. ‘Instead of simply designing another set of barracks to replace them, we chose to change the parameter by creating a “village feel”, featuring a cluster of buildings. Our client was keen to minimise operating costs to ensure financial sustainability, which led us to a light, breezy and flexible design.
‘We created a series of well-proportioned pavilions resembling tents for groups of 30 to 80, with a central peak,’ says Craig. ‘Part of their purpose was to extend the operating hours that the camp could be utilised daily, along with the number of days the camp could be used each year. (The previous design restricted occupation to Terms 1 and 4, as it was unable to offer a full range of programs during winter.)
‘We also aimed to create a camping environment that was distinctly different to a school campus, while ensuring it is resilient and low-cost with very low embodied energy. This required using locally sourced renewable materials. We combined the resilience of pre-cast concrete panels with the warmth and sustainability of timber featured extensively in the ceiling and wall linings, also making extensive use of Glulam timber portal frames.’
The structure’s natural finishes and human proportions provide a sense of intimacy. ‘The village form arises from a very simple camp-like cluster,’ Craig notes. ‘The north-oriented pavilions create a peaceful, sheltered, communal environment linked by cloistered verandahs, providing a natural gathering place.’
A spiritual dimension is embedded into the architecture. ‘We were mindful of the spiritual connections of many groups visiting the site when designing the camp, offering opportunities to reflect and connect,’ says Craig. ‘The Chapel incudes a very simple statement of faith – the crucifix on one wall, with no adornment, embellishment, or ritual. It’s a beautifully simple, highly reflective form, connecting with individuals or groups celebrating their faith.’
The placement of windows and doors play a crucial role in visually opening up each space to its setting. ‘The design, which allows for air circulation at low and high levels, is a highly permeable series of spaces,’ he says. ‘Students can gather inside for discussion, then quickly move outside to assemble, compete in games and competitions, or participate in adventurous programs.
‘The glazed doors foster a very strong porosity between indoor and outdoor areas, which is a crucial feature of the redesigned campsite,’ he continues. ‘They form a key feature of the semi-sheltered clusters throughout the campsite, providing a clear hierarchy of space.’
Environmental properties have been carefully considered. ‘We placed openable high-level windows around each pavilion to maximise light entry and cross-ventilation,’ says Craig. ‘Each building utilises thermal convection to circulate and dissipate warmth within the space, allowing sea breezes through in summer while keeping them sheltered from the elements in winter.
Even with the disruptions of Covid, the site has already hosted a wide range of school and sporting groups. ‘You’ll often see a Year 6 program preparing for the move to senior school, or a Year 12 program beginning their final year,’ says Craig. ‘These students are anticipating how they’ll meet the challenges of Year 12, gaining a beautiful sense of connection while building on teamwork and personal development in the process.’
The new facilities are also heavily used by a broad cross-section of groups. ‘The Salesian Society allows schools to run their programs during term time; it’s also used by sports clubs and other fitness-based programs to create bonding and build resilience,’ Craig points out.
Feedback has been excellent. ‘We’ve had many opportunities to serve school and sporting community groups since the reopening two years ago, and 2022 will be the first full year since building works were completed. Many groups are keen to go there, and it’s been great to be able to see the site reach its full potential as restrictions ease,’ Craig concludes.
With innovative thinking and rigorous design principles, McIldowie Partners have given this valued Australian institution the perfect setting to carry out its enduring mission of compassion.