Montagne Centre, Marist College
Project Details
Architects
Y2 Architecture – Matthew Dwyer
Award
Joint Winner Category: 2 : New Construction: Major Facility
Address
Golf Links Rd Maiden Gully VIC
Submitter
Oliver Lagasca
Cost
$4,932,741
Project Overview
The Montagne Centre consists of a village of pavilions to house the middle years centre, with a variety of spaces to deliver teaching in food preparation, art and science investigations, private study and small group discussion. The Centre also connects directly with the adjacent wetlands, both embedded in the landscape.
Jury Citation
The Montagne Centre for middle years students at Marist College, Bendigo embodies the design team’s careful consideration of the needs of a new school community, the school’s Marist Hermitage and symbolism, as well as the challenges and opportunities posed by the site. The key pedagogical driver for The Montagne Centre design was the removal of physical barriers to learning experience in order to promote learning activity anywhere and everywhere. This is reflected in the variety of spaces and settings designed to support various modes of learning and student interaction, including food preparation, art and science investigations, private study and small group discussion. A high degree of transparency and visual connection plus a sense of physical freedom have been achieved within and between the interior spaces of the building via a system of glazed sliding doors and writable sliding wall panels. These can be opened, partially closed, or fully closed to expand or enclose specific spaces and settings as required for different activities.
Comprising two pavilions linked by a central gallery space the building is long and low. Large folding glass doors open onto outdoor learning spaces around the building including an under cover assembly area with tiered seating, and an outdoor kitchen and dining area. On the east side of the Centre two deck areas and a small pier stretch out over permanent wetlands to create tranquil outdoor spaces perfect for natural science studies, socialising and relaxation. The use of recycled timber posts, beams and roof trusses, together with rammed earth walls and perforated ply ceiling panels throughout bring material warmth to the interior spaces, and create a cohesive neutral background for the colour and vibrancy of the students’ work and activities.
The overwhelming success of The Montagne Centre and its outdoor settings is their great potential to be adapted for specific projects and learning investigations. Its permissive design will also allow the building to respond to the evolution of Marist College’s distinct culture as it continues to grow and develop.
The Montagne Centre for middle years students is the first of a series of new school buildings planned for the green fields site of Marist College, Bendigo. The form of the building and its relationship to the surrounding landscape demonstrate careful consideration of the needs of a new school community, the Marist Hermitage origins and symbolism as well as the challenges and opportunities posed by the site. Comprising two pavilions linked by a central gallery space the building is long and low. It hugs the edge of permanent wetlands created in an area of the site prone to flooding. On the east side of the Centre two timber decks and a small pier stretch out over the water helping to anchor the building to its setting. This aspect of the school, which is visible from the road, is a concrete expression of the philosophy of boundary-less learning fostered at Marist College.
The key pedagogical driver for The Montagne Centre design was the removal of physical barriers to learning experience in order to promote learning activity anywhere and everywhere. This is reflected in the variety of spaces and settings designed to support various modes of learning and student interaction, including food preparation, art and science investigations, private study and small group discussion. A high degree of transparency and visual connection plus a sense of physical freedom have been achieved within and between the interior spaces of the building via a system of glazed sliding doors and writable sliding wall panels. These can be opened, partially closed, or fully closed to expand or enclose specific spaces and settings as required for different activities. Large folding glass doors open onto outdoor learning spaces around the building including an undercover assembly area with tiered seating, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and two deck areas overlooking the wetlands.
The Montagne Centre’s permissive design also means the building will to respond to the evolution of Marist College’s distinct culture as continues to grow and develop.
