the re:design option - large secondary
DESCRIPTION
The Re:design Option explores the challenges of different educational building types, and looks at how designers can help reveal the hidden potential of our existing schools. Looking at a large 1960s secondary school, three designers - Stallan-Brand, Graven Images and 7N Architects - have explored how a redesign could radically improve the social heart of the school, provide exceptional facilities for staff, and link much more closely with the immediate surroundings.TRANSCRIPT
Large Secondary Galashiels
Designers:
Stallan Brand7N ArchitectsGraven Images
Stallan Brand
Contents
Brief Comment
More Engaging, Accessible & Attractive
More Fun, Welcoming & Heart
More Interesting, Varied & Less Corridors
Major Surgery
Transformational New Landscape
Whole New Approach
Learning Streets
Pavilions in the Park
Lofty Ambitions
Informal Learning
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
The ‘Memorial Courtyard’ Space Transformed to Create New Open Learning Hub & Cafe Social Area
Further to the Architecture and Design Scotland Workshop that explored the potential for Galashiels Academy to benefit from new thinking with regards its existing learning environment.
The school building and its immediate grounds is clearly tired and uninspiring and presently contributes very little to the pupil and staff experience.
The A+DS team asked a mixed group of architects, teachers and representatives from the local authority to ‘think out the box’ and consider ‘remodelling’ ideas for the school that might not necessarily involve major capital expenditure but would serve to transform how the school functioned.
After touring the school and better understanding the challenges the teachers faced we brainstormed and sketched alternate concepts and presented them within the group for comment.
The collective identified a number of key areas where improvement would be welcome. Some of the areas identified were as follows;
Paul Stallan
• Traffic management and parking provision on site is a significant problem that fundamentally compromises the staff and students relationship with the external environment.
• The Academy is surrounded by high fences, service roads, restricted pupil access areas, refuse areas and areas for only timetable sports to the extent that the the School experience is akin to an inner city urban school despite being situated within a spectacular landscape.
• The school building is a labyrinth of corridors with no break out or social areas for the pupil. The combination of minimal external space mentioned above together with no internal social areas for pupils is unsatisfactory.
• The Academy buildings also serve to silo departments which discourages more contemporary and creative forms of learning from occurring. The buildings physical form isolates staff and does nothing to help engender a sense of community within the school.
• It was tabled that through a space planning initiative specific activities and existing areas within the building could be either relocated or improved to radically re-imagine the experience. The ‘memorial courtyard’, the dining and assembly halls and the library space were three key areas that would greatly benefit from a re-think.
• The Academy has an ‘old fashioned and institutional image’ that does not reflect the dynamic school culture.
The ideas, concepts and sketches following are not definitive but try to capture some of the free thinking that the workshop encouraged.
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Brief Comment
Galashiels Academy
More Engaging, Accessible & Attractive
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
More Engaging, Accesible & Attractive
Engageing
The potential for Galashiels Academy to better
engage with its immediate context is
extraordinary. The school building sits within a
spectacular natural environment yet fails to
interact with it. In short the Academy is like an
island marooned in a green sea. Minimal
investment and Some creative thinking could
transform the site into a 21st century learning
landscape.
Accesible
The Academy building appears like a traffic island
surrounded by service roads and tarmac.
Improved traffic management would release more
space for pupils rather than cars. The buildings
entrances are difficult to prioritise and badly
signposted, again something that could be easily
fixed with some new wayfinding.
Attractive
The architecture of Galashiels Academy is old
fashioned and institutional. This ‘image’ can be
countered by new thinking on how spaces are
used both internal and external to the building. It
might look institutional but a persons experience
can be different.
Post-It Ideas ...
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Conceptual Collage that Considers Improved Links with the Wider Environment
At every level the Academy could explore how to
forge improved links; i.e. links with the community,
with the surrounding landscape, right through to
how internal departments could better link and
collaborate to improve the learning experience for
the pupil.
Leaving the architecture of the School untouched
the potential to improve the very immediate
environment of the school is in itself exciting.
New Transformational Galashiels Academy Landscape
More Fun, Welcoming & Heart
Fundamentally the Academy not only appears
institutional but also is experienced as institutional
especially with regards to the external space
‘controls’. Investing in new street furniture,
shelters, wayfinding and landscaping would be an
improvement together with a redefining of what
external areas are off limits to pupils.
There is a huge opportunity for instance to better
utilise the space at the very centre of the school;
i.e. the memorial courtyard space. presently this is
a sad space both visually and philosophically. The
memorial could be sensitively relocated to a more
appropriate location to allow the school to have a
dynamic new volume at its heart.
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
More Fun, Welcoming & Heart
Post-It Ideas ...
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
The New Hub being a Shared Resource Uniting the Whole C–––ampus
A new open learning hub at the very centre of the
school that incorporates an internet cafe, library
and social area for pupils would magically liberate
the pupils to explore informal learning as the
might experience in a modern college, university
or Starbucks! The space would be a major asset to
the school in lots of ways serving as a shared
resource to unite the whole campus and break
down departmental silos.
The memorial courtyard roofed over to become an
internal multi- functional space at the heart of the
Academy.
The ‘Memorial Courtyard’ Space Transformed to Create New Open Learning Hub & Cafe Social Area
More Interesting, Varied & Less Corridors
Relocating the library from within the ‘teaching
block’ to a more social environment, providing
‘trendy and tasty’ cafe style dining for pupils
stopping them from going to Tesco and opening
up corridors with more study and social breakout
space are three areas that could be tackled to
improve the school experience.
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
More Interesting, Varied & Less Corridors
Post-It Ideas ...
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Academy Buildings are Presntly Hostile and Unforgiving
Another area that might be improved is the around
the buildings perimeter elevation. The threshold
between the inside of the building and the outside
of the buildings is severe. using pergola type
structures the Academy could offer a less hostile
elevation and provide spaces for students to be
outside but under cover. Presently when it rains
the pupils force themselves into the restricted
corridor areas of the building which is not ideal.
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Pupil Penthouses
A radical idea is to provide a new vertical
circulation tower that would relive the tight
overcrowded fire escape stairs. The new tower
would open the side of the building up to create
study balconies and break out spaces. The main
teaching ‘slab’ would be changed from being a
‘corridor’ to providing pupil penthouses.
New vertical circulation tower opening up the side
of the school building providing much needed
relief to ‘slabs’ introvert departmental interior.
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review
Art & music department relocated onto the roof of
the school accommodated in a series of funky
sculptural art lofts to transform the schools stuffy
image. In short a new hairstyle.
Art and Music Department on the Roof
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
ASSUMING new sport halls are provided the
existing gym halls could be re appropriated as a
wonderful new staff base. The existing staff
rooms are horrible! In this space you would have
big sofas, good coffee, sanded floors, yucca
plants, informal break-out, meeting spaces and
touch down laptop spaces!
New Staff Base Separate from the Rest of the School a Space were Teachers can be Inspired!
Major Surgery
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Developing a dynamic landscape around the
existing building would massively enhance the
Academy’s offer. Without altering the existing
architecture an investment in a creative landscape
would benefit the pupils enormously.
Transformational New Landscape
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Fundamentally re-engineering the buildings
orientation so that its main entrance faces North
onto a wonderful new public pupil space would
change the schools disorganised image. Sacrifice
here would be the relocation of the sports courts
which presently give little to the school
environment.
Whole New Approach
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Keeping the existing academic teaching block but
expanding West to re-provide accommodation for
those activities presently housed in low grade
structures. This plan considers three parallel
blocks with learning streets and lanes between to
create a ‘little city in the microcosm’ school. The
buildings following the landscape to frame
courtyard spaces.
Learning Streets
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Again keeping the existing academic teaching
block but expanding West (i.e. to re-provide
accommodation for those activities presently
housed in low grade structures); this plan
considers pavilions buildings that breakdown into
the landscape to capture interesting external and
internal spaces branching from a central social
space.
Pavillions in the Park
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
Clasåsic Courtyard Plan Form
Simple Legible Architecture
Clear Sense of Orientation
Understanding Front & Back
Internal Community Space
Dynamic Circulation
Like a gigantic living room this design option
keeps the existing academic block mirroRing its
size and scale opposite to form a major new
internal volume. Within this exciting new volume
lots of great learning things happen!
Lofty Ambitions
Galashiels Academy A+DS Design review Stallan-Brand
In a more informal basis this option like the last
creates a major volume at its centre, however this
space is more elongated and casual like a wiggly
Ramblas! Like the other options this design would
be major surgery but would address many of
Galashiels Academy’s challenges.
Informal Learning
7N Architects
Galashiels Academy Re-connecting it to the Town
Disconnection• The Academy is a significant civic amenity for the
Town.• It lies in a beautiful setting in the former Estate
landscape.• But it currently feels disconnected from the Town,
hidden away and hard to find.• The adjacent park is a key part of this setting and is
an underused local asset.
Re-connection Proposals• Re-establish a direct route between the Academy
and the Town Centre across the Park, through the original Estate gates and along St John Street.
• St John Street could be a shared surface with pedestrian priority to make it a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Re-emphasise the Park frontage as the primary Academy entrance.
• This initiative could be also be a catalyst for re-invigorating the Park as an important community asset.
Campus connectivity to surronding urban fabric.Campus disconnect from surrounding urban fabric.
PARK
TOWN CENTRE
ENTRANCE
Galashiels AcademyCivic Campus
Existing internal space.
School atrium precedent.
Existing external space.
Natural light in circulation space. Concept sketch of Academy refurbishment proposals.
Academy Building• The present arrangement of the school building is
arranged around a circuit of institutional corridors with no social or gathering places.
• Replacing the central courtyard with a new, internal, hall would create a new heart to the building, a vibrant, flexible, social “forum” for the school.
• New teaching accommodation could be built around this new space, to the east and west, which could also open up to adjacent garden and play spaces.
• The central “forum” space would be accessed directly from the new entrance and reception area, addressing the Park and the new path to the Town.
• The “forum” could have cafe facilities to complement the undersized and underused dining hall.
• The dining hall itself would benefit from improvement and could be extended out towards the playing fields, doubling as a dry, warm, space for spectators.
• These improvements could transform the Academy whilst retaining its identity within the social landscape of Galashiels.
USE EXISTING GATES
Academy landscape connectivity.
PARK
GARDEN BUFFERENTRANCE
Graven Images
02© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
CONTENTSMASTERPLAN
existing
proposal
BUILDING DESIGN
building diagram
negative spaces
axis sequence
schematic plans
DESIGN VIGNETTES
dens and sketches
entrance
circulation
classrooms
dining area
thresholds
social space
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07
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03 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –© Graven Images November 2012
01
Masterplan
A strategy based around spatial legibility and the
creation of internal and external social space.
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– MASTERPLAN: OVERALL STRATEGY –
CDT CLASSROOMS
STUDENT ENTRANCE
MUSICGYM + GAMES HALL
MEMORIAL GARDEN
TEACHERS’ ENTRANCE
ART SPECIAL EDUCATION
DINING AREA +KITCHENS
ASSEMBLY HALL
PP
Galashiels Academy: existing
05© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– MASTERPLAN: OVERALL STRATEGY –
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SPORTS AND GAMES CONSOLIDATED INTO NEW PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LINKING WITH EXISTING SWIMMING POOL
ART AND CTD RELOCATED TO HEART OF CAMPUS, FORMING A NEW CREATIVE WING
CREATION OF EXTERIOR COURTYARD
COVER MEMORIAL GARDEN TO BECOMEINTERNAL COURTYARD, INTEGRATED INTOSCHOOL.
OPEN COURTYARD RECLAIMS SPACE FROM CAR PARK. GARDENS LINK SPACE T0 ADJACENT KITCHENS.
RELOCATION OF EXISTING GAMES HALL IMPROVES VIEWS OF SURROUNDING GROUNDS.
STRENGTHENING OF SINGLE, MAIN ENTRANCE AND AXIS THROUGH SCHOOL.
DESTINATIONS AND DENS PUNCTUATE SCHOOL GROUNDS, ALLOWING VENUES FOR LEISURE TIMEAND SPECTATORSHIP.
CO
HER
ENT
ZON
ING
LEG
IBIL
ITY
INTE
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+ E
XTER
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Galashiels Academy: Proposal
06© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
02
Building Design
A proposal based around the concept of three courtyards whose characters
and functions derive from their orientation and degree of enclosure. This
creates a series of social spaces varying from internal to external that are
further supplemented by the development of the surrounding grounds
advanced by the masterplan.
07© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– BUILDING DIAGRAM –
S P O R T S H A L L
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COURTYARD the car park overspill is reclaimed to create a welcoming courtyard, whilst a vegetable garden linkswith the adjacent kitchen and provides opportunity for student involvement.
DEFINITIONthe sports fields become contained and definedbetween the composition of the new buildings.
SOCIAL SPACE a new roof over the existing memorial garden to create a concentrated and versatile social space that is useable year-round and that associates itself spatially and visually with the surrounding classrooms, dining area and assembly hall, allowing activities to spill over and expand in a flexible way.
DESTINATIONa sheltered
open courtyard that can be used by students
during breaks or provide external classroom
space.
AXISthe main entrance is
emphasised, working in tandem with the new
covered social space to create a legible axis through the school.
ENCLOSUREa new Art + Music block and Sports Hall give direction to the school’s open space, placing emphasis on the spectacle of students’ sporting achievements and creative work.
08© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– NEGATIVE SPACES IN SCHEME –
open
cour
tyard
kitch
ens o
pen t
o gre
enho
use
cove
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ocial
spac
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centr
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xpan
sion s
pace
for
class
room
s, stu
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actiti
vites
and d
ining
open
cour
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shelt
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socia
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ce/
exter
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lassro
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conta
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pace
of pla
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ields
spec
tator
seati
ng
and e
vents
09© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– AXIS SEQUENCE –
10© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– AXIS SEQUENCE –
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1 Principal entrance reinforced through relocation of reception, signage and visual connection along axis of building.
2 threshold space displaying school news, reception desk and loose furniture welcome visitors and users of the school.
3 Porous perimeter of social space allows overspill of adjacent classrooms.
4 Expansion of assembly hall functions and performances enabled by folding screens dividing space from social courtyard.
5 Area of Dining Hall is increased and barriers between itself and social space removed, creating a less rigid and formal organisa-tion that can spill out as required.
6 Providing an alternative entrance, the student led veg and herb garden links the activities of the dining area and kitchen.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 Principal entrance reinforced through relocation of reception, signage and visual connection along axis of building.
2 threshold space displaying school news, reception desk and loose furniture welcome visitors and users of the school.
3 Porous perimeter of social space allows overspill of adjacent classrooms.
4 Expansion of assembly hall functions and performances enabled by folding screens dividing space from social courtyard.
5 Area of Dining Hall is increased and barriers between itself and social space removed, creating a less rigid and formal organisa-tion that can spill out as required.
6 Providing an alternative entrance, the student led veg and herb garden links the activities of the dining area and kitchen.
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 Principal entrance reinforced through relocation of reception, signage and visual connection along axis of building.
2 threshold space displaying school news, reception desk and loose furniture welcome visitors and users of the school.
3 Porous perimeter of social space allows overspill of adjacent classrooms.
4 Expansion of assembly hall functions and performances enabled by folding screens dividing space from social courtyard.
5 Area of Dining Hall is increased and barriers between itself and social space removed, creating a less rigid and formal organisa-tion that can spill out as required.
6 Providing an alternative entrance, the student led veg and herb garden links the activities of the dining area and kitchen. 1
2
3
4
5
6
1 Principal entrance reinforced through relocation of reception, signage and visual connection along axis of building.
2 threshold space displaying school news, reception desk and loose furniture welcome visitors and users of the school.
3 Porous perimeter of social space allows overspill of adjacent classrooms.
4 Expansion of assembly hall functions and performances enabled by folding screens dividing space from social courtyard.
5 Area of Dining Hall is increased and barriers between itself and social space removed, creating a less rigid and formal organisa-tion that can spill out as required.
6 Providing an alternative entrance, the student led veg and herb garden links the activities of the dining area and kitchen.
11© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
03
Design Vignettes
an approach that prioritises the creation of idiosyncratic and enjoyable
spaces for learning and social activity, avoiding the anonymity and rigidity
of default school furniture and organisation.
12© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– DENS AND STRUCTURES –
13© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– DENS AND STRUCTURES –treehouse structures
14© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– DENS AND STRUCTURES –spectator seating/shelter
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Imagecaption withunderline
– DENS AND STRUCTURES –subterraneanlairs
16© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
–ENTRANCE –
A SINGLE ENTRANCEThe doors on the North-East facade of the school are given increased significance as the principal entrance to the
campus.
Once through the doors, students and visitors are welcomed by a reception desk, seating area and glimpse the rest of the school though the social courtyard beyond.
17© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
breakout spaces + informal study colonisation of circulation challenges and communication student interventions and props
– INTERIOR SPACES: CIRCULATION–
18© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– INTERIOR SPACES:CLASSROOMS –
19© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
A NEUTRAL BACKDROP FOR LEARNING : choice + texture through furniture
THE DEFAULT APPROACH: clutter and basic compliant furniture
– INTERIOR SPACES:CLASSROOMS –
20© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– INTERIOR SPACES:STAFF ROOM–
21© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– INTERIOR SPACES:STAFF ROOM–
A PLACE FOR reading, working, eating, sitting, relaxing, being sociable, being alone
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– INTERIOR SPACES:DINING AREA –
23© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– INTERIOR SPACES:THRESHOLDS+CIRCULATION –
The reconfiguration and erosion of the boundaries of the dining area and assembly hall creates a continuity between these spaces
and the imternal social courtyard. This allows functional fluidity and a spatial coherence which is further improved by the placement
of a student-tended greenhouse in the current location of the secondary entrance.
With this ‘back door’ played down, the route through the school is clarified and strengthened, and circulation rendered more coherent and less fractured through addressing the newly emphasised axis
through the building.
24© Graven Images December 2012 – Architecture and Design Scotland – Galashiels Academy Esquisse Workshop –
– INTERIOR SPACES:SOCIAL SPACE –
At the heart of the school is a missed opportunity.
The pivotal location of the memorial garden has the potential to be meaningfully integrated into school life through association
with the two key social activities of eating and assembly.
By covering the space, a courtyard is created that serves as an extension and focal point to either of these on a daily basis, as well as providing an area that can be appropriated by classes
and students for performances and events.