MATERIALS AND MAINTENANCE

Maintenance and cost are the main focus here: the requirement of a “maintenance free” wall inevitably means the use of face brick. We propose the use of face brick up to a height of 2.1m for most areas, with plastered & painted portions accentuating classroom entrances to allow for interest to be introduced in a meaningful, playful way. 

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The aim of giving the school a regional identity led to the design team drawing inspiration from the surrounding Residential- and Industrial areas. The Roofscapes reflect the industrious- as well as the Residential context. Mono-pitched roofs are fragmented and stepped into smaller parts along the shorter site edges, acknowledging the finer grain of the Residential houses abutting the site.

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A Klip-lok roof sheeting system is used as it allows for a low roof pitch which saves costs on truss sizes and reduces the scale of the building. The Klip-lok system makes use of concealed fixing which means less maintenance and leaks. 

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Galvanized 100x100mm hollow steel sections are proposed for the walkway columns, with selected columns terminating into low level, robust seating. 

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The opportunity exists for clay air bricks or similar to be safely and strategically introduced to ventilated storage areas and screening walls. 

Terraforce retaining blocks are utilised in areas where it can double as pavilion seating for play and sporting events alike.