CASE STUDIES :

INFORMATION CENTRE
PORIRUA / WELLINGTON / NEW ZEALAND

COMPLETED - JULY 2007

Background Brief

The brief from the school was to create an ‘Information Centre’ to house the Library, Computers, Enrichment, Literacy & Withdrawal spaces, Resource Room and ancillary areas.

The existing library was housed in an old classroom at the end of a block and was inadequate for the multiple uses required.

 

Northwest View

Concept

The building was designed around an Entry that ran from North to South to connect the new Information Centre with the rest of the school from both directions. The existing Library space was refurbished to house the Library, Withdrawal and Resource spaces while the new extension to the Northwest was utilized for the Enrichment and Literacy Spaces.

Entry link .
Interior Environment

Natural finishes have been used on the interior surfaces where possible, these include:

  • Linoleum to floors, walls and benchtops.
  • Wool carpet has been used in the main teaching spaces.
  • Bamboo plywood to the front of the issues desk
  • Plywood to the Entry ceiling and for joinery throughout

The colour scheme incorporates the schools multi-cultural diversity, with blues, greens and reds being used extensively.

The main Library space has a split floor level with bi-fold doors from the lower reading area opening onto a North facing Verandah which can be used for additional reading space.

Main Library space

External Environment

The existing building is connected to the extension via a flat roof clad in Butynol which runs the length of the Entry. The monopitch roof to the extension is coloursteel.

The walls to the new extension are weatherboards to match the existing block with the central wall of the Entry in plywood along with the soffits.

A verandah to the North runs the length of the Library with future plans to extend this along the front of the whole block.

Main verandah to the north.

Result

The overall results is an Information Centre that is a 'meeting place' for the whole school with enhanced services for the individual users,

Entry from south
  DESIGN BY [ URBAN RONIN ] © DON JAMIESON ARCHITECTURE LTD                                                   Photographs by Sarah Edgar Photography.