A radical re-imagination of existing conditions.

The client’s brief was to re-imagine the two top levels of the existing double brick 1960 building on top of Separation Street’s hill in Northcote and create a new “village” for the younger students – classes 7 and 8 - joining the Santa Maria College community. The new space had to include a total of 14 learning spaces, 2 staff rooms (one per level) and communal spaces/break-out areas for collaborative working.

The existing conditions consisted of a total of 7 classrooms and one staff room, configured in a series of rectangular rooms divided by a central corridor. The results were very dark and disconnected spaces that did not allow for any type of learning other than the traditional rows.

The internal space of the two existing levels have been radically reorganized, by demolishing all the internal partitions and increasing the floor plates via extending the building both on the east and north side. The old concrete floor between level 1 and 2 has been partially demolished to give space to the new heart of the village: a double volume area, surrounded by multiple spaces for aggregation, where a sculptural stair physically and visually links the two levels of the village, enhancing the sense of community and connection that the client was aspiring to.

The new learning spaces, 7 per level, are fluidly designed around the new central “plaza”, retaining a high level of visibility throughout the all building thanks to transparent partitions. The learning areas features glazed operable walls that connect the rooms in enfilade, allowing a more flexible use of the spaces. A subtle use of curved internal wall junctions softens the paths of travel throughout the new facility.

Photography: John Gollings