balmain boating school
2017
This studio drew upon architectural history to inform the design of a boat-building school in Balmain. The waterside site has a rich history ranging from pre-settlement coastline to current-day dog park. Interestingly, the site also used to be Australia’s first dry-dock, used extensively during the World Wars.
This scheme examines the complexities of historical reflection and significance, and the role architecture plays in a community. The design is framed through 3 ‘Rediscoveries’: History, Industry, and Community, and argues that if a building is to take space away from a community, it should offer something in return. The design of the school maximises the interface between the public and the teaching areas, as well as highlights the rich layers of history buried beneath the ground.
