Te Kura o Wairakei School

Creating flow through a series of multi-purpose spaces

Te Kura o Wairakei School in Christchurch needed a new administration block, library and staff room, the addition of which would form a new entrance to the school to better connect this place of learning to the street and community.

‘The existing school design had its back to the street, which impacted the feeling of the school and area,’ says Tom Holden from architects Isthmus Group. ‘The new design opens the school to the street to make it feel welcoming and part of the community. Inside, the concept of “flow” creates a series of spaces that can be used for discrete activities or opened to cater for larger community events.’

Simple, gentle environments with a pop of colour

The designers created a volume that flows from the street, through into the reception space, and out onto a decked area that forms the heart of the school. A soaring roof with generous eaves features full-height glazing, so spaces flow one to the next.

Tying these elements together are Havelock and Awake carpet tiles and entrance matting from Advance Flooring.

The entrance matting blends with the surrounding floor surface to help create a subtle and unfussy entrance into the school. Once inside the building, a spine of green Awake carpet tiles runs the full length of the building, connecting a variety of spaces through glazed partitions.

‘The interior material choices all sought to create a simple, gentle design that didn’t compete with the vibrant life that would inevitably inhabit these spaces,’ notes Tom. ‘Subtle, biophilic patterns – like those found on the Awake and Havelock tiles – add texture while still sitting comfortably in the background. The green of the Awake tiles creates a calming base augmented with pops of yellow at key gathering points throughout the school block.’

Award-winning spaces to make the school proud

Winning a LENZ (Learning Environments NZ) award in the small projects category, Te Kura o Wairakei’s renewed spaces are now enjoyed by students, staff and the wider community.

‘Staff have commented on the ease of teaching in these spaces – they report tamariki are both prouder of their school and calmer in their work. The green tones and textures found in the carpet tiles used contribute to this effect.’

The school has held a number of very successful school and community events in these spaces, and the continuity of the flooring design assists in allowing all the adjacent spaces to form a coherent whole.