b'gold standardK elston Deaf Education Centre (KDEC) providesinhabit space and the built environment, explains Mattintheirconsideredusetoachieveasimple,strongReseneeducational services to Deaf and hard of hearingEvery of ASC Architects. andcontrastingarchitecturesetagainstthenaturalBullseyestudentsthroughoutNewZealandsNorthTwonewconsolidatedpurpose-builtbuildingsweresurroundings. Elements relating to KDECs rich history Signal boost Island. Students who enrol in the KDECs day-to-daydesigned to replace the scattered and aging buildings,on the site were also retained in landscape featuresReseneeducational programmes are supported at a numberwith integrated amenities for staff, students and visitors.integrated throughout the new campus redevelopment.of partner schools across Auckland, and also at theTheredesignalsoenabledthepark-likesurroundingsTheDeafcommunityisveryclose-knit,sooneAlabastermain KDEC campus located in West Auckland. Buttobefullyembraced,andthenewsimplifiedpalettething that was really interesting about the project was when its array of unconnected and underperformingof materials and Resene paint colours create contrasttheoriginalsiteanditsimportanceinitscollectiveopposite and below: 1960s buildings begun getting in the way of deliveringagainst the natural landscape in a way that makes thememories. The site and its original buildings includedInspired by the many their services to the community, ASC Architects wasgreens seem even greener. Bagged blockwork facadescountless items of special significance, and we workedphutukawa trees brought on board to assist with a full redevelopment. painted in Resene Alabaster white really pop against thevery hard to preserve and repurpose as many of theseinterspersed across the Elegant simplicity and attention to user needs areIn addition to providing new specialist learning facilitiesnatural landscape beyond. elements into the new buildings as we could. KDEC campus site, onsiteforthehearingimpaired,areworkedcampusThesitealsoincludesanumberofmatureThis included incorporating original curved benchprotruding entrance both in hand at this specialty school. wasalsorequiredtoprovidespaceforthenationalphutukawatrees,saysMatt.Theiconiccrimsonseating into the new landscape design. These specificand window surrounds administration, assessment and resourcing services forflowers of the phutukawa have been used as inspirationbespokeelementswereimportantforustoretain,in Resene Bullseye punctuate the new hearing impaired pre-schoolers and school-aged students.for the bright red projecting window surrounds thatbecauseifyouresittingperpendiculartopeoplemain building, which A residential accommodation facility was also needed topunchthroughthecrispwhiteblockworkfacades.when youre signing, it makes it quite difficult. In theis painted in Resene provide immersion programmes for hearing impaired andThisinspirationfromtheredphutukawaflowersnewdesign,werearrangedtheseoriginalbespokeAlabaster. Further to provide support for students and their families. continues to the entrances of each building, where thefurnishings to provide generous conversation circlesinspiration was taken This project required ASC Architects to respond touse of Resene Bullseye red is used to boldly signify andto allow clear sightlines and to assist more participantsfrom the De Stijl a highly complex functional brief that needed to addressenhance arrival to each of the new buildings. being included in group signing conversations. movement, which is contemporaryeducationalrequirements,andalsotoThecombinationofReseneAlabaster,ReseneA number of trees and plants on site also had specialevidenced in the shapes and simplified colour provide an architectural response to the particular waysBullseyeandmatteblackjoineryalsotakessomesignificance to the Deaf community. One of these waspalette of red, white thatDeafandhearingimpairedpeopleperceiveandinspiration from the abstract art movement, De Stijl,a lemon tree that was originally going to be removed toand black.34 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 35'