REMOVABLE PANELS AND BUILDING ADAPTABILITY

Walkway/bridge from the square house to the stair case

In the future the school may have new building and space requirements, therefore it is essential for functionality, efficiency and environmental purposes that the structure is adaptable/flexible, accomodating for change. The textured columns need to remain in place to support the roof, however this bridge can be modified by removing the glass and allowing for new attachments or new materiality use.   

Computer booth and common room areas

The textured columns will once again need to remain to support the structure. The timber walls that fabricate the booths can be easily removed and reconfigured. This could allow for more space in the computer area, or the booths can be removed and closed off if the computers aren't necessary in the future. Additionally, if the tree grows and isn't able to be cut down, the building can be easily pulled apart and reconstructed elsewhere. 

Common Areas - Terrace and lower ground room

If the school requires more space for an increasing number of students, the ground level common room can be extended as the glass windows and timber panels can be removed and attached to other walls, creating an extension. The supporting corner concrete pillars in the walls will need to remain in order to keep the basic structure standing. 

Office spaces 

Studio Spaces connected with folding divider doors

The internal divider doors can be easily taken apart if the school requires one big room. If a meeting or lecture room is required in the future, the glass windows in the office and studio spaces can be removed and the timber walls can be easily extended and placed where needed. The timber panels and glass used for these rooms are flexible and adaptable. They are able to be easily transported, attached and detached. 

The bridge and student gallery

The gallery is constructed mostly out of glass. If this walkway isn't big enough in the future, the glass panel can be removed and timber walls can be extended.   

Adaptability and Flexibility within the materials used is essential for future efficiency, environmental and cost factors. Additionally, if the elevator isn't large enough and is slowing the process of students travelling from the bridge to the studios, a stair case can be simply attached to any timber panel. The yellow pillars can be used to support the structure, however can also used for decoration. They are lightweight and can be easily attached/removed to/from the timber panels.

Theory put into practice:

In the images below, I have explored how the panels will work and how each facade/material can be altered.

Shown are the studio rooms and windows of the corridor being converted to allow more sunlight into the room. This explores how the architecture is 'adaptable' for changing requirements in the future. For example: The textured panels in this case are changed to timber panels (as they support the roof of the structure), the glass vertical windows are removed, and the large timber walls are modified to allow for two medium sizes windows to be placed in. The reason the school may want these smaller windows converted into larger ones could be to allow for more sunlight or a more expansive view.

ORIGINAL DESIGN - The two small side windows in the corridor 

MODIFIED DESIGN - Transformation to allow for more sunlight - structure panels remain, however materiality change to timber, two windows are placed in, allowing more of a view and outlet.