Situated on a residential street in Essendon, Australia, the PEGS Junior Boys School is a striking modern building with a monolithic facade that stands out as a cloud-like silhouette against the sky. Designed by award-winning architecture studio McBride Charles Ryan, the project renovated an aging mansion on a hill into a unique school with a shining silver facade that makes it appear as if the entire building has been sliced straight through the middle. The modern renovation makes excellent use of daylight and features a unique natural cooling system that draws in air from the south and expels it via a thermal chimney.

McBride Charles Ryan designed the PEGS Junior Boys School to integrate into its surrounding neighborhood. The school was originally housed within a singe renovated mansion, and as it grew it began to incorporate the houses that surrounded it. The studio sought to create an imaginative space for encouraging creative young minds.

The ground floor classrooms are arranged around northern courtyards and are decorated in rich earth tones, whereas the first-floor rooms provide a calmer atmosphere. Each room is carefully designed to suit a different purpose, creating a dynamic and interesting environment for the school’s pupils.

+ McBride Charles Ryan

2 Comments

Stephanie Caloprato February 10, 2012 at 3:56 am

I was thinking about HaliC� s comment about the way the people in tent city decorated and organized their tents.
brittarthur February 7, 2012 at 6:07 am

You can check out the documentary about McBride Charles Ryan here:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeArchitecturally