Pine Community School / Riddel Architecture

∏Christopher Frederick Jones_Pine_Community_School-08

Architects: Riddel Architecture
Location: Arana Hills, Australia
Project Architect: Ben List
Project Team: Natalie List & Paul Grant
Engineering: CLA Engineers – Brian Norris
Client: Pine Community School
Contractors: Glasby Constructions
Site Area: 1,056 sqm
Project Area: 225 sqm existing building refurbished, 76 sqm new work plus 73 sqm new verandah
Budget: $219,926
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Christopher Frederick Jones

Although a small independent primary school, Pine Community School has been steadily growing over the last few years and had outgrown the existing facilities provided by their 1970s weatherboard building. The Federal Government’s Building an Education Revolution (BER) funding the provided the means to expand the school.

floor plan

The existing building, which consisted of 3 classrooms (one being very small), office, kitchen, bathroom facilities and covered outdoor space, was all housed under the one gabled roof and in need of renovations. Originally constructed by the parents of the school at the time, the 1970s building is a rustic building of rough weatherboards and aluminium sliding windows and doors.

There was little sense of arrival to the building and little architectural character, although a past parent had generously and artistically painted a mural on both end gables that provided a playfulness to the building.

∏Christopher Frederick Jones_Pine_Community_School-06

Ben List of Riddel Architecture was asked to provide a scheme that included a new purpose- built library, office and store, as well as refurbishment of the existing building. As there was little sense of arrival at the school the scheme also included a new covered walkway/play area. The new additions were to be modest and sit comfortably against the existing building and reflect the relaxed and informal atmosphere between teachers and students.

∏Christopher Frederick Jones_Pine_Community_School-09

Due to the tight boundary conditions of the site there was only one position in which the new addition could be located – at the very front of the building adjacent to the main access from the car park.