PAMELA COYNE LIBRARY : ST MONICA`S COLLEGE, EPPING

Transcription

1 PAMELA COYNE LIBRARY : ST MONICA`S COLLEGE, EPPING PROJECT TEAM: BRAD WRAY [DESIGN & PROJECT ARCHITECT] PHOTOGRAPHY: NILS KOENNING

2 The traditional school library is becoming more digitalized and the all mighty physical book becoming more and more scarce. The St Monica`s College Library fit-out new extension consists of two parts: 1. A renovation to the existing school library 2. A new reading lounge & deck extension.

3 The project celebrates and elaborates on the traditions of the school & civic library through a series of key ideas, or chapters, that were translated into architectural interventions. These architectural interventions were collectively composed and narrated as a single story.

4 The book stacks are placed on the upper level of the library in reference to the books being the Trinita dei Monti Church at the top of the Spanish steps and the external courtyard as the Piazza di Spagna at the bottom of the steps.

5 It has been rewarding to learn from library staff, the amount of borrowing has significantly increased due the opening of the new library. Brad Wray [Branch Studio Architects]

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7 The courtyard artwork or mural is an abstraction of the Bungle Bungle national park viewed from an aerial perspective. Celebrating the Australian outback, an important icon of the St Monica`s college philosophy. COURTYARD MURAL ARTWORK DESIGNED & PAINTED BY BRAD WRAY IN COLLABORATION WITH ELLIE FARRELL.

8 A grand reading-room area for larger class and study groups, sits in contrast with a series of nook areas where students can hide-away, immerse themselves in the library and read alone.

9 A new reading lounge punches through an existing brick wall on level 01 and extends out over a previously unused courtyard. The reading lounge is specifically orientated & configured to offer views towards the nearby Darebin creek green belt and wetlands.

10 PLAN ENTRY THRESHOLD 02. MULTI-DESK 03. SPANISH STEPS 04. STAFF OFFICES 05. EXTERNAL COURTYARD / GARDEN FOYER 06. MURAL WALL 07. FORUM 08. INFORMAL CLASSROOM / STUDY AREA 09. RESEARCH ROOM 10. READING LOUNGE 11. DECK 12. COMPUTER HUB 13. READING NOOK 14. FICTION - BOOK STACKS 15. NON FICTION - BOOK STACKS 16. MAGAZINES 17. AUDIO VISUAL HOT DESK 18. SERVICES 19. DAREBIN CREEK & WETLANDS 20. PHOTOCOPIER

11 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The traditional school library is becoming more digitalized and the all mighty physical book becoming more and more scarce. The St Monica`s College Library fit-out new extension consists of two parts: 1. A renovation to the existing school library and 2. A new reading lounge & deck extension. The project celebrates and elaborates on the traditions of the school & civic library through a series of key ideas, or chapters, that were translated into architectural interventions. These architectural interventions were collectively composed and narrated as a single story. 1. Entry Threshold Inspired by the entry to the Secret Garden, the Entry Threshold is conceived as a singular volume and is the main entry to the library. The threshold protrudes slightly into the existing school corridor like a portal into another world. 2. Garden Foyer Two large glass sliding doors open up the library to the courtyard where an existing internal corridor used to segregate the courtyard from the library completely. The internal library spaces are now engaged with the external courtyard, creating an indoor/outdoor reading area. 3. The Mutli-desk A singular multi-purpose, multi-use, Swiss army reception desk, catering for borrowing, audio-visual hot-desk, library catalogue and a seat. 4. The Spanish Steps A existing 1400mm change in levels between the lower & upper floors of the library was previously connected by two awkward, narrow stairs. This has been redefined as a series of platforms that promote impromptu spaces for discussion, meeting, photocopying, reading, viewing and traversing between the two levels of the library. 5. Tree-top reading lounge A new reading lounge punches through an existing brick wall on level 01 and extends out over a previously unused courtyard. The reading lounge is specifically orientated & configured to offer views towards the nearby Darebin creek green belt and wetlands. The library contains a series of Forum spaces for smaller, more intimate student reading, study groups and area for one-on-one teaching. Flexible & translucent staff areas encourage teacher and student engagement. Through the use of a curtain divider, a more transparent & sometimes blurred visual & spatial barrier is created. Similarly, curtains are used as informal screening devises to create flexible teaching & study areas. When a private class is required curtains may be pulled shut. At other times the curtains can be pulled open for the area to be used as a large open study area during lunchtime and after school. A grand reading-room area for larger class and study groups, sits in contrast with a series of nook areas where students can hide-away, immerse themselves in the library and read alone. The book stacks are placed on the upper level of the library in reference to the books being the Trinita dei Monti Church at the top of the Spanish steps and the external courtyard as the Piazza di Spagna at the bottom of the steps. A carefully chosen colour and material palette was selected to reflect and complement the courtyard artwork, engaging with the Australian outback, an important icon of the St Monica`s college philosophy. Moments of the colour orange are used throughout in fabrics, paint finishes and bench tops to link back to the external courtyard artwork. The courtyard artwork or mural was designed and painted by myself [Brad Wray] with the help of my wife Ellie Farrell. It is an abstraction of the Bungle Bungle national park viewed from an aerial perspective. It is the second time now I have been fortunate enough to simultaneously take on the roles of both architect and artist on a project. The painting was completed out-of-hours, after work and on weekends over a 3-month period. It has been rewarding to learn from library staff, the amount of borrowing has significantly increased due the opening of the new library. Brad Wray [Branch Studio Architects] ARCHITECT: BRANCH STUDIO ARCHITECTS PROJECT TEAM: BRAD WRAY [DESIGN & PROJECT ARCHITECT] PROJECT DURATION: DESIGN & DOCUMENTATION: 5 MONTHS CONSTRUCTION: 9 MONTHS [INTERNAL WORKS] 3 MONTHS - [READING LOUNGE & DECK EXTENSION] COURTYARD MURAL ARTIST: BRAD WRAY [BRAD WRAY WORKSHOP] IN COLLABORATION WITH ELLIE FARRELL HAND-PAINTED OVER 3 MONTHS PHOTOGRAPHY: NILS KOENNING STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEER: PERRETT SIMPSON STANTIN MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER & ENERGY RATING JBA CONSULTING ENGINEERS BUILDING SURVEYOR STOKES PERNA BUILDING SURVEYORS LAND SURVEYOR MJ REDDIE BUILDER [CONSISTED OF 2X PARTS: ST MONICA`S COLLEGE MAINTENANCE STAFF [INTERNAL FIT-OUT] BEHMER & WRIGHT [NEW EXTENSION]:

12 EXISTING CONDITIONS PHOTOS EXISTING CONDITION - LOWER LEVEL LOOKING UP EXISTING TWO STAIRS EXISTING CONDITION - LOWER LEVEL CLOUDED IN EXISTING CONDITION - LOOKING TOWARDS STAFF OFFICES - NOW READING LOUNGE EXISTING CONDITION - UPPER LEVEL LOOKING DOWN TOWARDS COURTYARD EXISTING CONDITION - CORRIDOR NOW LIBRARY! EXISTING CONDITION - SITE OF NEW READING LOUNGE EXTENSION