Project 1: RARE Architecture

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked to re-define the design of a ‘Mod-5’ relocatable classroom through the integration of RARE Architecture.

You remember those ‘Mod-5’ relocatable classrooms, those ugly, energy inefficient buildings that thousands of students across Australia sit inside each day and are expected to learn in, well how can we improve them?

Koula, Emma and I researched far and wide but in the end our design drew inspiration from two sources.

Firstly we took inspiration from the work of Shigeru Ban, a contemporary Japanese architect who caught my attention with his revolutionary permanent and temporary structures constructed out of paper. Cardboard/paper is an almost perfect material; it is recyclable, low cost, transportable and can be handled easily by people on site. But we asked ourselves, are cardboard/paper structures thermally efficient? Maybe not. Secondly, we drew inspiration from a structure by Olsen Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects in Washington. We were all instantly attracted to the simplicity of its form but also conversly the intricacy of the sliding panels. I think our minds were blown away by the possible oppurtunities such an idea presented, especially in regards to giving the occupants of the building full control of natural lighting and views.