|
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.
I am a co-founding director of Macksey Rush Architects which began in 1981 from a small office in Toowong. Attention to detail is a high priority within our projects. We have a young team of designers within the office who have brought new fresh ideas through collaboration.
What was the design brief for this project, and what was your vision for achieving your client’s goal?
The brief was to design a complex that incorporated a new Administration, Resource Centre, Multimedia facility & General Learning Areas. The brief was to design a building which mediated the existing topography while creating a new school address from the street. It was also required that the architecture inspires the learning/working environment in a manner which reinterpreted the school’s identity.
Were there any challenges in trying to achieve your vision for this project?
School projects normally have tight budgets; designing from inception to completion, always considering the budget, is paramount. Providing “value for money Architecture” is always a great challenge.
What atmosphere were you trying to achieve in this building?
Generally we were trying to create an atmosphere that was inspiring; a place/space that children wanted to be a part of in their daily learning pattern.
You’re a fan of Centor sliding systems. Tell us which systems you like to use and why (aesthetics, functionality, sustainability etc).
Using the Centor A6 series sliding door system within the project allowed us to have flexibility within our design, both in terms of how you use the space and incorporate a rich heavy material for the door leaf. The doors for this project where quite heavy; being made out of solid spotted gum. The Centor A6 series allows you to have large sliding doors that weigh up to 300kg. Working within a tight budget we chose to spend money on particular areas that would help to increase peoples sensors within the space.
Have you had any feedback from the client about their space and the hardware’s functionality?
The final outcome has been far beyond the client expectations. Part of this is the experiences people have within these spaces and how they function. The Centor A6 series has contributed to this outcome.
What other Centor systems have you used, and why did you choose it?
We have used many Centor Systems. We choose to use Centor products due to their quality of product, durability and design aesthetic.
|
