Pascoe Vale Primary School STEAM / Kosloff Architecture

Architects: Kosloff Architecture
Area: 580 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Derek Swalwell
Lead Architects: Julian Kosloff
City: Pascoe Vale
Country: Australia

The Pascoe Vale Primary School STEAM building, designed by Kosloff Architecture, represents a significant educational and cultural development, integrating seamlessly with the existing school infrastructure. It embodies the school’s dedication to embracing both learning and discovery, supported by meaningful consultations with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. This project not only expands the physical campus but also incorporates culturally significant elements and innovative educational environments that foster curiosity and creativity in the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

Pascoe vale primary school steam / kosloff architecture

The Pascoe Vale Primary School STEAM building, developed by Kosloff Architecture, connects to the existing administration building and forms a new entry for the school. It extends the existing neoclassical structure originally designed by E. Evan Smith, Chief Architect of the Public Works Department from 1922 to 1929. This initiative, realized over multiple years, establishes a new civic frontage for the school.

The project has involved significant cultural consultations with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, especially with Wurundjeri elder Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin. This collaborative effort has led to the building being named ‘Moondani,’ a Woiwurrung word for embrace, reflecting the building’s design around an existing peppercorn tree and its role in fostering learning and discovery.

Furthermore, specific areas within the building have been named to reflect their purposes and cultural significance, such as Bargoongagat (gathering) for a presentation area, Mungka (maker) for a room equipped with kitchen and AV facilities, Durn-durn (mind) for the library, and booeegigat (create) for the art room. These elements are embedded within the school’s STEAM building.

The building’s design incorporates educational motifs, such as a representation of the solar system on the south façade and a Fibonacci spiral influencing the arrangement of windows and doors on the north façade. It also includes a sun-dial and a star map of lights, enhancing the multipurpose space and library. The internal design features fractal patterns within an amphitheater, all crafted to stimulate curiosity and celebrate the convergence of arts and sciences.