celebration of colour

How colour was used is a key component in integrating this pedagogy into the physical space. The 10 learning commons open onto a central circulation spine with large voids allowing natural light from skylights to penetrate the central space. These voids visually connect the learning commons to facilitate cross-curricular interaction and foster team work between teachers of various disciplines. The colours of each learning common define and orient the students as well as serving as their ‘house’ colours, enhancing a sense of identity.

Colour is central to all aspects of Albany Senior High School, best summed up as a neutral tonal canvas with splashes of colour providing meaning to the vision of the school.

The exterior facade uses a combination of black aluminium joinery panels and green glass in an offset random pattern to echo the depth of the native bush and help the bulk of the building recede into the retained bush behind while the narrow red green and yellow panels provide welcome splashes of colour characteristic of the Puriri berries, Kowhai flowers and brighter leaves.

The steel is painted Resene Condor (powerful grey) to evoke the earthiness of the material while concrete is clear finished with Resene Uracryl to bring out the inherent texture.

The interior is a continuation of the exterior colour concept. The black and white contrast is reflected in the general wall colour of Resene Quarter Tea (muted beige) contrasting with black doors and wall panels along the spine of the building together with charcoal carpet. The steel structure is exposed and painted in Resene Condor.

Onto this neutral palette splashes of 10 separate strong colours are introduced, one for each of the 10 learning communities and played off against bright carpet stripes and muted pinboard stripes.

All the school's colours are then brought together in the heart of the school, the entry foyer, where they are all represented in a larger than life pixelated wall that encloses the library.

Here the colours represent the diverse aspects of the school coming together as one new exciting and thought provoking school.

Colours used: Resene Black, Resene Bright Spark, Resene Camarone, Resene Condor, Resene FilmPro Digital Green, Resene Geyser, Resene Gorse, Resene Grey Chateau, Resene Havoc, Resene Lima, Resene Milk Chocolate, Resene Picton Blue, Resene Plum, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Rain Forest, Resene Red Berry, Resene Royal Heath, Resene Studio, Resene Surfie Green, Resene Tea, Resene Titania, Resene Traffic, Resene Trojan, Resene True Blue.

Architectural specifier: Hamish Boyd (Project Director), Roy Block (Project Architect, Jeremy Bennett, Joseph Muir, Jasmax Ltd
Building Contractor: Arrow International
Painting Contractor: NTP Decorators
Photographer: Dave Olsen
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2011
From the Resene News – issue 3/2011

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