Final Submission of learning spaces

Just a selection of some of the images used in my poster yesterday of the classrooms and multimedia centre.

Multimedia Centre

After determining that the media centre with all the machine and computer use would be more suseptable to overheating in summer and would generally have a higher core temp than the other learning spaces, I decided that it should be seperate and inside the mound on site. Through its windows there will be lighting from above rather than the sides reducing the glare onto computer and projection screens, while the space will still be adequatly lit.

Concept

In designing the learning spaces for schools in the Southern and South Western regions of the site, I have decided to keep the feeling of a rugged yet natural landscape that has been altered as little as possible and with the intent of adding to the site, rather than developing and altering it. Therefore I have attempted to use easier materials such as rammed earth and untreated concrete, and green roofs with natural vegetation where possible. Incorporating passive heating and cooling techniques such as trombe walls, louvers, angled ceilings, thermal mass on north facing walls, and closeable cooling towers.

The learning areas attempt to get community involvement, with the use of amphitheater's for plays, musicals and concerts, while all spaces are able to be opened up into large spaces, which could be hired for community meetings or organizations such as book groups or band rehearsals after school hours.

The learning spaces of the school itself is set up to involve as many multipurpose facilities as possible, which can be used as the required highly specific spaces, such as science labs as well as being able to be modified by the teachers and students into more general learning spaces. The amphitheater's offer a place for congregation for assemblies and would be widely used in lunch and recess.

Trombe Walls

I have decided to incorporate trombe walls into my design, which will be placed at the rear of the classrooms with high windows so that the sun is angled toward them. It was decided that if placed on the exterior of the walls, the glazing would cause the building to loose their rugged aesthetic through the rammed earth and unpolished concrete. The trombe walls will add significant passive heating during the whole day through the thermal mass of the rammed earth, and will keep heating into the evening and night for use of the community. Also, if the temp is kept higher through the night, it will reduce the heating costs the next morning.

Research for learning spaces - Harbor House

The Harbor house by Stuchbury and Pape in Newcastle, NSW utilizes a good roof system which is designed to take as much sun as possible and through the use of reflection bounce and disperse the light into the parts of the house equitably, angling the most sun into the lounge although maintaining some into the bedrooms and other less used rooms of the house. This form of roofing could be used within the learning spaces of Torquay high school.

Research for learning spaces - Peckham Library

The form of the Peckham Library, in the upside down L, although basic could be rearranged and modified into a set of learning spaces. Since my buildings are located on the southern boundary of the property, the form would allow for wind protection to the north and allow space for outdoor learning areas. The use of the internal space allows for large open spaces as well as smaller pods for individualized learning centers.

Karmoy Fishing Museum

Internal shot toward ocean
Weaving on external, acting as windbreak

While searching for inspiration and ideas on coastal design and materials, I came across the Karmoy Fishing Museum in Norway. The concept was to design a building that would become part of the coastal scenery over time, and was done through a clever use of material and form.
The concrete has been treated with a fertilizing chemical that allows moss to grow on exterior surfaces without damaging the concrete, alike the nearby rocks. Also bracken weave, a traditional building technique used to climatize buildings made by weaving bracken branches, is used so tightly that wind cannot easily penetrate. These uses of natural materials may blend in well with the torquay landscape also, and may be able to be modified for use in torquay high.

Visit to Site

After going back to the site we were going to design the school on, it was decided that the proposed design would have to accomplish the following goals:

- To significantly reduce the amount of wind on the site due to the position ontop of a hill, and the general climate of Torquay.

- To maximise the amount of sunlight into any potential quadrangle or space whereby their may be a congregation of students.

- As discussed in the lecture, keep and add to the quantity and variety of the naive plants around the school green areas.

- Add a through road, continuing from where it ended to the street just south of the South-East corner of the site, to reduce traffic around the school and congestion around the fire station exit.

Also, to improve the school layout for teaching and learning purposes and follow the general guidelines given by the primary school Principal on the primary school to challenge the concept of learning.

Portable Classroom Design

The design attempted to create two internal spaces whereby the kids could listen and see the whiteboard in one room, and do the majority of the work, while in the second space had a chance to relax and do quite study smaller, more intimate space. There was also an external area which was shaded in summer and undercover from rain in winter.

Siza/Souto de Moura

The Siza/Souto de Moura in London offers a good concept for the roof design. Although this couldn't be used in completion for a classroom, particularly in Victoria, the roofs ability to allow and diffuse natural light could be used. Maybe if the roof on a large pitch to the South or something?

Design of classroom

Example of passive cooling through a classroom


Some classrooms for primary schools and kindergartens that were researched included lots of light and colours around the room, and big open spaces for communal learning. Some of the other aspects my group decided to incorporate was to reduce the reverberation time and background noise, reduce glare into the classroom while still lighting the space effectively and create a space that could be kept at a temperature where learning and teaching would not be hindered, with a minimal use of heaters and air conditioners.

Research into SIPS

Sips roofing
Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) were used our classroom modular design due to their abilities to replace so many components of the classroom sustainably such as studs and joists, insulation and columns. By reducing the need for columns, they also allowed greater space for the classroom to utilize.

Modular design research

The idea of modular design can be done through the use of crates or shipping containers, which are already transported can be stacked or arranged around one another to may be able to suit a classroom of primary school kids.
The classroom may be able to be made in a few different parts, and then easily put together on site.