Avonhead School Learning Centre
Creating a stimulating and accessible learning environment.
The project brief for the Avonhead School Learning Centre in Christchurch required the school’s redundant 1960s hall to be adapted to function as a new centre for learning, with the main purpose being to create a stimulating and accessible learning environment in which students can develop enthusiasm for information and enjoyment of reading.
Positioned near to a busy road, the original hall building offered very little street appeal and a design decision was made to create a new playful street façade inspired by book spines stacked on a shelf. The resulting stepped façade allowed for built in window seats to be positioned within the façade to provide a place for individual or group reading activities. Internally, the timber flooring from the old school stage was re-used as the wall lining behind the window seats and finished with Resene Aquaclear satin waterborne urethane clear.
The external colour scheme was selected for consistency with the existing school building colours including Resene Linen (green edged neutral), Resene Karaka (rainforest green) and accents of Resene Lusty (rich orange red) and additional colours Resene Crisp Green (mid yellow green) and Resene Washed Green (greyed green) were added to enhance the ‘book spine’ appearance.
This palette of colours was painted using Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne paint and Resene Hi-Glo gloss waterborne paint to provide a durable finish and minimise the maintenance required. The timber deck is finished in Resene Furniture & Decking Oil.
Internally, soft, neutral colours were chosen to create a calm environment, nurturing of learning. Resene Half Milk White (pearl white) was selected for the walls of the main spaces to enhance the selection of natural timbers within wall linings, acoustic ceiling panels and joinery fixtures. Colours from the Karen Walker collection, Resene Beryl Green (pale green), Resene Robin Egg Blue (soft green blue), Resene Powder Blue (antiqued steel blue) and Resene Periglacial Blue (icy blue), were used in smaller ancillary spaces, such as the staff work and resource spaces, quiet room and audio-visual room.
Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen waterborne paint was used throughout the interior, selected for its durability, washability, low sheen finish and very low odour complemented by Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel on trim and joinery and Resene Ceiling Paint.
The clever use of colour won this project a Resene Total Colour Education Colour Maestro Award in the Resene Total Colour Awards 2012.
Architectural Specifier: Opus Architecture
Building Contractor: HRS Construction
Painting Contractor: Deco NZ
Winner: Resene Total Colour Education Colour Maestro Award
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2012
From the Resene News – issue 2/2013
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