Murrays Bay Primary School
A decile 10 primary school in the picturesque Auckland coastal suburb, Murrays Bay Primary is the home of learning for over 500 students in years 1-6. Known for its physical education programme and social skills development, the school is focused on doing whatever is necessary to shape the young minds who enter it.
This focus carried through to the design of the new building which uses deep window shrouds to restrict internal glare and to help control thermal gain. The approach builds on the academic research which highlights the importance of air quality, temperature and light. These factors influence the physical learning environment to such an extent they have a quantifiable impact on student advancement, forming a core part of the Ministry of Education guidelines and minimum expectations.
The horizontal louvres on the uppermost glazed windows serve the same purpose as those large format window shrouds. Here, the design uses the lines of the louvres to both blend and contrast with the lines established by both the railing and the feature louvre wall. Yet that wall is mostly for aesthetics, running from the ground to the roof and finished in the same shades of blue as found in the school badge.
The large window shrouds are formed from Solaris 450 louvres and feature on the North, South and West elevations. Boxing the entire windows on the upper floors, they sit in the darkened corridor between the brickwork sections, where they protrude enough to make both a visual and functional impact. On the ground level, the shrouds frame entrance ways, acting as small canopy and introducing a brief decompression for those entering.
At the top of the building, Solaris 180 louvres run the entire width of the glazed sections. Finished in a dark coloured powdercoat, they may have a visually unobtrusive presence but the functional impact is fully realised. The shad the interior learning spaces and prevent any high angle sunlight from reflecting on students' devices inside.
The vertical louvres serve a different type of purpose. Here, they provide a large splash of the school colours, with 4 different powdercoat finishes being used to bring the louvres to life and have them stand out against the background. The mixed use of Solaris 50, 100, 150 and 200 louvres, brings movement and an energy that will transmit to the students.
Murray Bay Primary School’s vision is to ‘unlock the uniqueness and potential in every student’. The design of their new building will undoubtedly help. By using louvres and window shrouds to help reduce glare and excessive health build-up, and colour coded louvres to instil a sense of place and connectivity with students, it’s a perfect setting to learn. And maybe to have a little fun, too.
Client Ministry of Education Architect Warren & Mahoney
Contractor Woodview Construction Location Auckland
