Kensington Primary School
The re-imagining of a neo-gothic Victorian school house delivering a renovated exterior, replanned interiors, new amenities, new external play areas and comprehensive DDA access.
Design Response
This comprehensive re-imagining of an elegant neo-gothic Victorian school house – built in 1881 and extended in 1915 – carefully restores the external building fabric after removal of the incremental accumulation of wiring, pipework, AC condenser units, emergency escape stairs and other. The front entry door was returned to its original location along with new DDA access ramp and an internal lift giving DDA access to the upper teaching spaces for the first time.
Internally, ad-hoc renovations and additions were stripped out to make way for new reception, administration and meeting room spaces along with reconfigured classroom spaces. A new external fire egress stair was added whilst existing chimney cavities and sub floor spaces were used for the extensive reticulation of services. Structural wall openings were carefully inserted to expand the pokey existing classrooms, pairing them with adjacent sound isolated withdrawal rooms. Acoustic performance was a critical focus with absorptive acoustic linings throughout and a visually open but acoustically isolating operable wall between one pair of classrooms. The neutral but warm internal finishes create an inviting backdrop to the vibrant daily activities of primary school life.
Externally, an infrastructural spine was threaded along the west façade linking new toilets, escape stair and AC equipment cages with a continuous canopy that mediates the connection between the heritage building and the lively play areas in the heart of the school. New landscape elements including planting, seating clusters, yarning circle and ball protection screen are integrated with retained trees and play areas. These elements are sympathetic to the heritage building whilst clearly defined as contemporary additions. The toilet block design responds to issues of gender identity, passive surveillance and maintenance with a cruciform plan that allows views in and out along with a bank of individual toilet cubicles either side with open handwashing areas.
Services Provided
- Full Services
Architect
Workshop Architecture
People
Project Director: James Staughton
Project Team: Jamie Kelson, William Heath, Elliot Meates
Photographer: Peter Bennetts, Gallant LeeDate completed
June 2024
Location
Wurundjeri Country / Kensington
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