ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
The outdoor learning terraces and garden play areas promote openness and a connection to nature , echoing traditional learning environments found in cultural practices . Murals from the original school , painted by Blak Douglas ( Adam Hill ), were recreated in the new facility , ensuring a continuity of culture . Additionally , totems designed by Uncle Neil ( Thorne ) are incorporated into the design , linking the classrooms to cultural narratives and enhancing the educational experience .
A sustainable venture
Darlington Public School ’ s commitment to sustainability is evident through initiatives like rainwater harvesting , natural ventilation , and energyefficient systems .
The design also features sawtooth roofs angled to capture sunlight , high-level glazing for indirect daylight , and protective curved screens for filtered light . The school ’ s emphasis on blending educational , cultural , and environmental values highlights its role as a community hub that celebrates both its local landscape and its deep connections to Aboriginal heritage .
“ The architect of the winning project explored and extended the formal program of the client to include the views and experience of the local community and a variety of users ... this generated a reading of the history of place , culture , and time ,” noted Paul Finch , on behalf of the WAF World Building of the Year jury .
“ The result of the project is poetic , a building in which topography and landscape , inside and outside , form and materials , flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way .
It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference — a pointer to brighter , better futures for all .”
Practice : fjcstudio Contact : media @ fjcstudio . com Address : Level 5 , 70 King Street , Sydney NSW 2000 Phone : + 61 2 9251 7077
Web : www . fjcstudio . com Project page : https :// fjcstudio . com / projects / darlington-public-school / Instagram @ fjcstudio
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