Western Australian Sites and Projects
Perth Modern School
introduction / overview / presentation / location
Landscape Architects: Urbis
location: Perth Modern School - Perth
Introduction
Perth Modern School - the State's first co-educational secondary school - was opened on 1st February 1911. The school's motto- "Savoir c'est Pouvoir" (Knowledge is Power) was in the modern language of French to reflect its modern approach to education. Students at Perth Modern School were selected on the basis of merit and the high demand for entry ensured that this requirement was retained until 1960, when the school became ‘comprehensive’, accepting students from the surrounding district. In the 1990s, the adjacent ‘Thomas Street School’, which was established as a primary school in 1904, was incorporated into the Perth Modern School and the whole site was re-established the unique tradition of the Perth Modern School as a school of excellence. The Master Plan was developed to assist in achieving this vision.
Perth Modern School has a strong heritage component. During the design process a heritage architect was consulted to ensure the landscape design appropriately considered and treated the site’s heritage. This included the relocation of the war memorial to a fitting and prominent location, treatment to heritage listed trees and buildings and general historical information that was subtly represented in the architectural and landscape design.
The project team developed the following key principles to guide the landscape master planning process:
- Conservation and retention of significant built form and spaces;
- Sympathetic placement of new development;
- Definition of appropriate bulk and scale of new development;
- Identification and enhancement of historic patterns of use and movement;
- Definition of soft and hard landscape treatments to enhance legibility of heritage buildings and spaces, and;
- Location of car-parking to reduce impact on significant views and pedestrian access paths.
Urbis undertook significant site analysis prior to commencing design works. This involved assessing existing vegetation, and researching the School’s extensive history. Existing services and irrigation systems were also assessed at this time. As the design required was only to part of the School, Urbis independently carried out a master plan to ensure these works would be consistent with previous and future works.
The proposed redevelopment of Perth Modern School was intended to transform the existing campus into a 'hub of excellence', and reflect the re-establishment of the School as the State's Premier School of Academic Excellence. The existing heritage buildings were retained and complemented by contemporary 'state of the art' learning facilities for the core academic areas.
Key landscape design objectives for the overall campus included:
• Provide an improved coherent and structured campus layout.
• Provide a more visually/sensory stimulating campus environment.
• Remove carparking zones from the internal areas and relocate peripherally.
• Define entries and circulation clearly for vehicular; pedestrian and service/maintenance.
• Retain and utilise existing landscape/historic features.
• Improve universal accessibility.
• Allow for emergency vehicle access.
The Landscape design draws on the following design themes:
• Recognition of Perth Modern’s achievements in music and the arts.
• Perth Modern’s historical, cultural and educational significance.
• Fibonacci Grid – as generated from the existing architectural proportions of the main heritage building.
A new `front door’ for the School was designed to provide a more obvious point of address for people arriving from the Roberts Road frontage, together with redistribution of existing parking to the periphery, facilitating vehicle free passive recreation zones throughout the campus.
The landscape translates the theories and intent of the Concept Design and Project Brief into a built form which the School is able to enjoy and use. The Fibonacci design grid was translated onto the ground plane and picks up cultural references in an abstract way. The agora walls reflect the topography of heritage plans of Perth Modern School. The abstract form of these walls provides a contemporary aesthetic whilst referencing a historic element. Trees identified as being historically significant have been protected and treated as feature trees within the landscape. The heritage of the site was addressed with the upmost importance and respectfully referenced in a contemporary way.
The high level of fusion of practice and theory within this project is a result of the thorough coordination and collaboration processes undertaken with the architects and the consultant team during the design phase.
introduction / overview / presentation / location
2010
