Kimberley College Junior School
The outdoor learning environment for the Kimberley College Junior building is a small but fun space suspended between two double classrooms.
To reinforce the shapes of the colourful forest canopy roof structure that was designed by Guymer Bailey Architects, Guymer Bailey Landscape covered the ground with subtle geometric shapes that contain different thicknesses of AstroTurf and decorative concrete finishing. The purple, orange and yellow roof canopy colours are also reflected in three faceted ‘jewel-like’ concrete seats provided at the entry for parents picking up their children at the end of the day.
The suspended outdoor learning area is grounded by a vertical vine trellis located on the northern side of the classroom, and a planted dry creek bed wraps around the outside of the building, guiding and filtering the overland water flow. The existing Eucalypt tree that was honoured through the architectural design needed to be removed due to ill health, this was replaced with a large Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina) to provide a focal point when viewed from the outdoor play area above.
Stage A works included the refurbishment and extension of an existing two-storey classroom block as well as the construction of a new covered walkway through the centre of the school.
PROCESS
The school, while only being two double classrooms and associated spaces, needed a unique identity. Inspired by a large Eucalypt tree that needed to be removed due to poor health, we created a contemporary and functional interpretation by designing a large, semi-transparent tree-like floating roof that spans between the two buildings, providing shelter to the play area below. Natural ventilation and sunlight were strong drivers in the design and resulted in the careful positioning of louvres to allow efficient cross ventilation and polycarbonate corners with high-level glazing to provide light to teaching spaces.
METHODOLOGY
The scale of the entry has been designed from a child’s perspective featuring a play box that welcomes you with an indigenous message. Fun indoor breakout spaces are introduced into each of the classrooms and also form part of the furniture. The geometric triangles represented in the colourful forest canopy roof structure is subtly reflected on the ground through the use of different thicknesses of astroturf and decorative concrete finishes to convey the landscape underneath a tree canopy.
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
The Yuggera People
COMPLETION
2016
LOCATION
Carbrook, Queensland
CLIENT
Kimberley College
PROJECT CONTACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
Guymer Bailey Architects
VALUE OUTCOMES
“GB-A were an absolute pleasure to work with. The team on site and in the office never cut corners and were committed to delivering a very high quality project.”
Jim Spainard, Golburn Enterprise
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology. Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy.
PRINCIPLES OF PASSION
During the design process, our project team not only considers the physical context of the designs but also examines the social and cultural context. Through every design, we look for ways to inspire positive attitudes, behaviours and emotional responses in people to encourage the responsible use of resources, increase cooperation among occupants, and communicate the values of society and cultural diversity.
Designing for a sustainable future is a core part of our organisational philosophy. Drawing on the knowledge from our Greenstar accredited team members and specialist consultants in environmentally sustainable design, we ensure our project teams integrate creativity with scientific rigour, to create designs that are conscientious of the natural environment and local ecology.
We design built environments from a holistic, sustainable perspective: each project reconciles ecological and social impacts within the current economic climate. We holistically evaluate environmental, cultural and financial sustainability in every task we undertake.