Ngarluma people
Western Australia
Karratha Senior High School Technical Learning facilities is a unique collection of spaces collected under one continuous roof focusing distant views to culturally important sites, the horizon and spaces unseen from the ground. Spaces are interactive, reflective, contemplative, social and educational, embracing the individual and the community. Spaces are designed to inspire rather than simply teach and to reference familiar places of destination, creating comfort and meaning.
Applied colour, pattern and symbols progressively unfold to provide meaning and enrich experience. Super-sized abstracted tools reference the function of manual arts spaces with colour matching machinery.
Ground level walls extrude to provide places to gather, recreate and rest in shade and naturally ventilated places.
Spaces meander in plan and section framing place and nurturing students and the community.
This building adds a new dimension to a well-conceived regional high school campus in Karratha. The new structure engages thoughtfully and respectfully with the cultural values of local custodians and creates a more outward-looking and landscape-connected place of learning and training. It is intelligently robust, and – where it can and should be – beautiful and delicate. This is a project full of demonstrations of, and lessons in thoughtful and attentive architecture.
The Karratha Senior High School Technologies Learning Area project is grounded in a strong conceptual framework and a clear understanding of the relationship of the built form, not only to new and pre-existing conditions on site, but also to its place in Karratha and the wider landscape, from a physical, metaphorical and ancient cultural perspective. Steel helps form the cyclone-proof skeleton of this robust structure but is also skilfully and appropriately woven into the very fabric of the building.
Adrian Iredale, Project Director
Finn Pedersen, Design Director
Martyn Hook, Design Review
Mary McAree, Project Architect Design Development, Documentation and Contract Administration
Tom See Hoo, Project Architect Master Planning, Schematic Design, Design Development
Ben Moffit, Design Documentation Team
Rebecca Angus, Documentation Team
Takara Putland, Contract Administration Team
Tyron Nohr, Documentation Team
Kim Valas, Contract Administration Team
Shiqi Yu, Documentation Team
Pritchard Francis, Structural Engineer
Pritchard Francis, Civil Consultant
ETC Solutions, Electrical Consultant
Hydraulics Design Australia (HDA), Hydraulic Consultant
HMWC, Mechanical and Machinery Consultant
UDLA, Landscape Consultant
Milestone Certifiers, Building Surveyor
Gabriels, Acoustic Consultant
Shawmac, Traffic
Envision Bushfire Protection, Bushfire Attack Assessment Level
Survey Logic, Surveyor
RBB, Cost Consultant
Successful Projects, Time Planner