bookworms go bold

A school library is the heart of a school. Through books and various digital media, it is a place where students can escape to a new world and immerse themselves in it. It is a place of creativity, connectivity and exploration. With that in mind, Oakhill College commissioned and upgrade to their existing library. The new library was to have elements of a traditional library but also be contemporary and excite its young users.

The library is divided into six core zones: Create, Collaborate, Explore, Investigate, Study and Read, which are signposted throughout with graphics and inspiring quotes complemented by pops of Resene colour.

Each zone caters to the unique learning style for the lesson or study session and is determined by the careful selection of lighting and furniture, which includes booth seating, flexible folding tables, height adjustable tables, modular seating, reading chairs and café furniture.

With so many visual stimulants in a teenager’s world, the new and improved library had to engage with them and speak their language. The inspiration for the colour scheme was the students themselves. Their energy, vibrancy and boldness were translated into a colourful palette of red, teal, yellow, purple and orange. Colours were deliberately chosen as gender neutral colours and to reference the school colours.

The columns are painted in Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel in three colours – Resene Daredevil, Resene Supernova and Resene Roadster. Graphic lettering signposts the pillars for each zone and offers inspiring quotes. These are in a youthful and contrasting colour. The radiating carpet tiles that complement the pillars further outlines the allocated learning zone.

Resene Enamacryl in Resene Lip Service dazzles at the print station and brings to life further graphics in orange and teal.

The construction phase of the project took place over the Christmas break. It was important to have the dust settled and odour removed from the site as much as possible by the time the school re-opened in January. Resene Zylone Sheen’s low odour made it ideal for the base building walls in hues of Resene Quarter Masala and Resene Alabaster teamed with low odour Resene Enamacryl for and easy clean finish on trim, joinery and feature areas.

The finished project reveals a dynamic and energetic learning space sure to inspire the growing minds of the creative students.

Architectural specifier: Studio CCP
Building contractor: Better Built Group
Client: Oakhill College
Colour selection: Sinead Byrne, Studio CCP
Interior designer: Sinead Byrne and Simon Child, Studio CCP
Painting contractor: Sydney Wide Painters
Photographer: Michael Anderson, Paramount Studios Sydney
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2016
From the Resene News – issue 3/2017