Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School

The Awards Jury commented on the highly professional result in a difficult site and original building, and that the project is to be commended for the attention paid to the need for students to work and reflect individually.  Summarised as a beautifully realised built work that provides a lovely variety of spaces, great choice of materials and colours.

Project Details

Architects
BVN

Award
Commendation, Category 3: Renovation / Modernisation – Over $2 million

Address
1A Hamilton St East, North Stratfield NSW 2137

Submitter
Knut Menden

Cost
Not disclosed

Photographer
John Gollings

Project Overview

This is stage one of a new primary school that reuses a 1970 three storey former Telstra training centre. As an unattractive soulless concrete building there were challenges to turn it into an inspirational educational space.

The project began prior to the appointment of a school Principal, and initial briefing to clarify the school’s vision was developed in collaboration with key members of Sydney Catholic Schools through an initial visioning workshop.

The overarching design is based on principles evolving from the initial visioning workshops. These are to provide a high level of transparency to showcase learning, to create a diversity of learning settings in recognition of diverse learning needs, to provide a variety of differently scaled spaces to suit young learners, and to use materials to stimulate curiosity and create a warm and natural atmosphere.

Natural materials are maximised throughout the space from the partially exposed existing concrete structure to timber floors. A central spine acts as a ‘bridge’ within the space connecting learners of all ages from students to staff along the length of the space. Removable wooden boxes within the bridge provide elements which students can remove to use as seats, or create nooks in the floor for reading or play.

Sliding transparent polycarbonate and pinboard panels, and movable furniture enable a variety of spatial configurations. In combination with built-in seats and two small withdrawal spaces, a multitude of different learning settings can take place concurrently. Administration areas are fully transparent from the bridge in order to maximise connection between students and staff, and showcase work/learning within the school as part of a holistic learning community.

There is minimal use of colour, allowing the predominant material, natural timber, to provide a calm background to student activities and display of work. Acoustics are largely provided by ceiling baffles and soft furnishings which provide minimal colour definition to each learning space.

Natural ventilation and daylight were greatly increased by demolishing ground floor external brick walls and replacing with air-tight high performance timber framed double glazing with large openings to an external timber deck.