Site: Boundary

From the feedback that we've got for Project 2, we have decided not to use the private lands and just use the site given and the pink marker shows the boundary lines of our site. With the current building (the triangle building), we are going to convert that as an administration area but we are only going to use parts of building.

The picture above shows few sketches that I've made before we divide our individual buildings. I wanted to divide the triangle building into 2 parts with a bridge in between that connects it and a courtyard below for the staff. The other sketch is the classroom, is just an idea how I wanted the shared discussion room to be in the middle so that the students can move about and discuss outside the classroom area. Within the classroom and discussion rooms, there are pathways. Outdoor learning space is facing North for sun exposure.

Site: Analysis

SUN & WIND
We want to make full use of the sun exposure from the North and divert the strong South-West wind away from the site. With that, we are going to put the outdoor learning space facing North and the design of our individual buildings will incorporate angled or curved roof and pathways to prevent the strong winds from coming into the courtyard area.

WEATHER
The weather at Torquay is cold and windy during winter; and hot and dry during summer. We want to make full use of the sun exposure to heat up the rooms in cold weather and also windows to allow wind and ventilation during summer.


SOIL CONDITIONS
The couple of days that we went and visit the site it was a typical winter day, gloomy and cold. We found that most of the soils are quite soft and muddy; and also the site is not flat. There was a slight slope at the corner of the site towards the Primary School.


ROAD MANAGEMENT
During school hours, especially mornings and afternoons, there will be heavy traffic on Grossmans Road. Initially, we wanted to make another road from inside the school that connects straight to the main road(Geelong Road). However, it would be dangerous for school children if there were cars going through in and out of the school. So we decided not to go through with that design but thought of making a bus zone or a drop of zone in the school compound, near the admin but away from the classrooms and other school facilities.

Site: History

We all know that Torquay is famous for the beach and surfing. With wide grassy foreshores and large shady trees lining the coast and is also the gate way to Great Ocean Road. But what's the history behind the famous Torquay?


In 1880, the Wathaurong Aborigines from Spring Creek moved to the town, and it was renamed Torquay in 1892 after the seaside town in England. On April 3 1908 the Spring Creek bridge was built, connecting the town to Anglesea. Today, in terms of population growth, Torquay is the most rapidly expanding town in non-metropolitan Victoria. It is a seaside holiday resort and located 95 km south-west of Melbourne and 22 km south of Geelong.

There are different types of indigenous plants and its indigenous history that still exists surrounding Torquay and at the site itself. At the site, we want to try and retain the aboriginal history and keep the plants and try to restore the ecology.




//taken from this website http://www.theage.com.au/news/Victoria/Torquay/2005/02/17/1108500207522.html