John Curtin College of the Arts Yr 7

The new school facility was part of Department of Education’s new program of integrating year 7 into secondary schools for 2015. This facility provides accommodation for additional general teaching areas, amenities, science classrooms and dance studios.

John Curtin College of the Arts is a landmark school attractively situated on the higher typography within Fremantle and has been well preserved in providing a historical representation of a variety of architectural styles; Art Deco and Inter-War Functionalist style with teaching facilities surrounding large central outdoor landscaped courtyards.

The new facility is sited on a tiered plateau, positioned to provide a central courtyard serving as a functional backdrop and amphitheatre for outdoor activities, teaching, social interaction and school performances; encouraging diverse teaching environments for students and staff.

The architecture provides a refined building solution through a purity of efficient structural logic and a clear aesthetic form cantilevering towards the magnificent views of Fremantle, contributing a new archetype to the existing architectural vibrancy of the college. The palette is simple; smooth neutral concrete panels contrast against a ‘Mondrian’ style composition of the colourful infill panels. The project incorporates ‘best practice’ ESD initiatives through passive and active building features.

The design is cognisant of improving the learning environments by providing strong connections between the internal classroom, teaching areas and the external environments. Large flexible classrooms expand into activity spaces allowing flexible teaching modes and multiple classroom interaction.

The dance studios occupy the upper levels with large volumes and surrounding views whilst the upper level terraces and bridge act like theatre stalls with views to the terraced amphitheatre courtyard below.

JCY has embraced a strong collaboration between architects and artists. The artists worked closely with JCY in developing a number of integral artworks within the building fabric; creating a sculptural veil & perforated patterned screens. The most striking of these artistic interventions is the complex folded tessellation of a triangular geometry into an intricate facade sunscreen; over 300 folded aluminium elements create a constantly changing play of light and shadow and a dynamic all-encompassing architectural design – an enriching creative collaboration between art and architecture.