17
Left
Budget cuts meant loss of
conventional ceiling yet the
architecture reveals no loss
of quality.
How does it differ from what might have been
designed for this site say 10 years ago? How
have we moved in architecture in that short
period of time?
That’s a difficult question….we probably would
have had a better budget. Ten years ago
technology wouldn’t have been so important and
I do have to say that the influence of technology
in the workplace and the importance of having
social spaces can’t be underestimated. Technology
is re-defining our social interaction. It’s not about
designing traditional classrooms so much as
designing social spaces so that students will come
along and interact and be engaged with campus
life and benefit from informal learning. Certainly
with this space it’s a dining hall but we wanted it to
double as a place for students to work and operate
as a meeting place.
That’s certainly true of workplaces dispensing
with the cellular office with much more weight
given to collegiate, collaborative spaces that
require transparency.
Actually it’s the education sector that’s driving
a lot of these changes in the wider workplace.
I heard the term recently that you need to create
‘sticking’ spaces – places where students are
encouraged to stick around. The interiors of the
dining room are also about that youthful informal
aesthetic that encourages a relaxed meeting place.
How difficult is it to design to energy standards
while avoiding the cell-block look?
Well you want views and light. The standard is
double glazing with sun control. We generally
over-specify. It’s really not that difficult to do
sensible design.
Sensible design is one thing but getting it to the
next level when some magic occurs is another.
How do you ensure some magic?
There are a number of elements at work. The
relationship of the steel veil, the expansive use of
glass to liberate the space promotes a dialogue
with outside and it can’t be a true verandah
building unless it provides such a vantage point
and engages in that way.