Hutt International Boys' School: Art Block

A new Arts Block at Hutt International Boys’ School was required to replace somewhat cramped and disjointed facilities. The new block contains art studios, a senior design room, IT suite, white room, and photography suites, as well as an Artist in Residence studio.

Key design drivers include provision of a collaborative (project-based) Arts learning environment with direct connectivity to the exterior; active edges and movement lines to hold the inner quad edge of the building through the creation of a gallery zone; a single-storey building form in keeping with the existing architectural language; and an adjoining single storey teaching block. Locating the main entry at the termination of an existing entry axis was also key.

A simple building form and roof scoop capture natural light to illuminate generously proportioned collaborative Art Studios and adjoining specialist learning zones. Coherent external and internal claddings articulate and contain interior spaces and geometry.