All posts by a2 architects
Circular in form, this single-storey fully accessible 1000-pupil post-primary school competition entry for Tallaght has no front or back, leaving it free to be explored from all directions. Compass-like in its orientation, a primary north-south axis is countered by a number of perpendicular axes that run east-west with the site’s existing contour lines to establish the circulation system for the school.
The public rooms of the school (G.P. Hall, Sports Hall, Staff Room, Lecture Theatres) are organised on its periphery to provoke interrelation with the external public spaces encircling the school.
The choice of construction system is made on pragmatic grounds in order to significantly reduce builders’ preliminaries and to shorten the construction timeframe as a result of the extensive use of prefabricated building elements.
House at Pearl Beach, Australia nears completion. Fairfaced alabaster blockwork, exposed insitu concrete, polished terrazzo and sliding hardwood screens are employed.
Gorey Community School extension rises from the ground. Three specialist classrooms (Science, Home Economics and Art) are being added to the front of the existing school thereby making a new entrance courtyard. A pattern of fairfaced smooth and textured white cement blocks are set at different planes to give depth to external facades.
A2 Architects are again supporting The Simon Community’s House of Cards Appeal this Christmas. Money raised during the appeal will be providing much needed emergency food, clothing and shelter for those who have no home to go to this Christmas. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our respective clients, suppliers and friends a very Happy Christmas and New Year. (www.houseofcards.ie)
Rafael Moneo sketching at A2’s Lucky Lane Housing on the occasion of his recent visit to Ireland. He was the recipient of an RIAI Honorary Fellowship at the recent Annual RIAI Conference in Carlow.
