No_5_May_1968 — Page 23

from ground to the highest point.

Main factor dictating the site layout was the orientation of the classrooms to face north and so give no sun control problems. The east-west width of the site dictated a block with six classes per floor, fitting in with streaming of the academic course. This meant that staircases had to be located in towers south of the block rather than within its structure.

The steep slope of Warwick Road is exploited to give vehicular access at ground level and pedestrian access for pupils at first floor. In this way the safety of the children is ensured and the lease conditions, requiring more than normal car parking for a primary school of its size, to be met without too much loss of playground space.

The triangular shape of the site dictated the position of the assembly hall.

Maximum size for the hall has been obtained by shaping it to a point towards the stage. A covered playground area is provided beneath the hall which is at the same level as the first floor pedestrian access.

General circulation is planned with the two staircases clearly differentiat- ed. The main stair, enclosed from the weather, is combined with access to toilets and stores and has a large milling space leading to it, while the secondary escape stair, open to the weather, wraps around a narrow rectangular tower.

Construction and finishes

The school consists structurally and visually of three distinct parts main classroom block, main stair block and assembly hall block.

The classroom block is of crosswall construction for the lowest five floors, with part columns and part cross walls for the top three floors. Floor slabs span the cross walls, haunched at the ends.

Beneath the block the spread foot- ings are fairly deep, due to an old nullah being found under the block, and are deepest at the east of the site.

The accommodation comprises: ground floor: changing rooms and toilets for children using the play- ground or stage, carports and care- takers' quarters.

first floor: main entrance, adminis- tration and staff rooms, and general purpose room.

second to fourth floors: six class- rooms per floor.

fifth floor:

two special rooms for

art and music and two classrooms.

sixth floor: dining hall and upper covered playground.

seventh floor: three-bedroom, two- bedroom and two single bedroom staff flats.

Internal finishes stress the shape of each room. Teak strips run con- tinuously over the blackboards, doors, cupboards and across the windows. A purpose of the strips is that paint may

Far East BUILDER, May 1968.

لقصيرة

Fair-face concrete east wall of the classroom block

OPEN AR RECREDON SPICE

Ground floor plan

CHANGING

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