Hale Junior School Arts Building

Site Architecture Studio were encouraged by the School’s desire to create a playful journey for students as they move from the traditional row classrooms across the courtyard, to the new Art Building and the adjacent existing library. The ramps and landings provide a playful approach to the art room’s southern entry, which has the potential to directly connect to the library in the future. The Creative Studio is an open plan flexible space for structured, lecture style learning as well as group collaborative work or individual (one on one) activities. With movable benches, the room is regularly reconfigured during the day to suit the activity. The room has fixed bench and sinks on the east and west under large openings providing visual connection to the lake in the east and physical connection to the tree deck on the west. Students are allowed to opportunity to be distracted by their surroundings and creatively daydream while painting or drawing.

In the School’s own words “The Art Room, or Creative Studio as it has become known, blends the space with Hale School’s beautiful natural surrounds. Capitalizing on views over the school’s lake and set high amongst the trees, much like a tree house, the space can be opened from several sides to allow the coastal breeze to flow through. Rather than being a ‘room’ we refer to the building as a space, as the decking areas provide ample area for the students to work outside. The students can access tables, sinks, kilns, spray booths and equipment outside the four walls. The western walls are predominately clear roller doors that allow students to sit either inside or outside and work on projects individually or collaboratively with other students. There is no doubt the feeling of being a part of the natural surround offers plenty of creative inspiration for the students”