DRK House of Learning

 

Urban Park Precinct
18 GF Plan
First Floor Plan
20 Section AA
19 West Elevation
21 Night
Elevations 1
Elevations 2
17 Detail
15 Notes
16 Notes 2
22 Model
1
2
3a
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Urban Park Precinct 18 GF Plan First Floor Plan 20 Section AA 19 West Elevation 21 Night Elevations 1 Elevations 2 17 Detail 15 Notes 16 Notes 2 22 Model 1 2 3a 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

 

Groenheuwel House of Learning, Groot Drakenstein, Paarl

2018 – 2019

 

Project Team:

 

Client:                                                VPUU NPO (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading) in partnership with

                                                            WCG Drakenstein Municipality

Contractor:                                       Edge to Edge Construction

Landscape Architect:                    TKLA

Structural Engineer:                      NNVS

Electrical Engineer:                        IME

Sustainable Consultants:             Paul Carew and Vernon Collis

 

Context and Brief:

 

This project is embedded in a VPUU led Public Investment Framework process undertaken in partnership with Drakenstein Municipality. VPUU is an area based approach that aims to improve the Quality of Life in selected Safe Node Areas (SNA) of which Groenheuwel is one such area. Groenheuwel has a high level of crime and the community lacks access to resources.

The library is embedded into a broader Urban Park Precinct Plan (image 1) with a strong emphasis on youth and an invitation to play.

The building allows for a community library with additional facilities that can be rented out to the community to fund building maintenance, as well as to activate the building beyond library opening hours. There is a community multi-use studio and caretaker flat at first floor to enhance eyes on the street.

 

Intention:

 

There was an intention to use locally sourced materials, use as little concrete as possible, to harvest rainwater and to design in a manner that precluded the use of mechanical ventilation.

The building shifts itself off the orthogonal of the street edges in order to engage with the future urban park, as well as to maximise north sun and to work with the natural contours. Roofs lift up to allow for winter sun and to promote cross ventilation.

The foil face of the ceiling is designed to work with the thermal mass of the brick paved floor in order to promote a sense of cool in summer and warmth in summer. The SAP timber clad layer to the ceiling assists with noise reduction and brings a sense of material warmth to the interior.

The landscaping that surrounds the building serves to further embed the building within the Urban Park and adds to the climate management of the facility.