The artwork proposed for Lakeland SHS Education Learning Block & Education Support Centre responded to the geometry of Ferguson Architects’ design. This is its conceptual premise. The introduction of a series of jet water-cut patterned screens, the artwork simultaneously disrupts and reinforces the building’s geometry.

Each of the four screens encompass a series of approximately 32 panels (in two sections) mounted on the portal frames. An ‘alphabet’ of 18 unique perforated motifs of differing cut-through intensity are repeated across the façade. A total of 264 panel sections comprises the artwork to grace the new school block frontage with strong visibility from the adjacent street.

The patterns utilize geometric and organic motifs created by the artist. The organic patterns draw inspiration from the indigenous garden in the existing Lakeland SHS school. The most intricate patterns (see through) are aligned in front of the windows of the building to ensure adequate light penetration and create interesting, shifting shadow interplay in the interior spaces.

The building’s geometry is reinforced by the rectangular panels that make up the screens, interrupted by small gaps between each panel, also allowing light to penetrate through. Whilst the panel width varies, a strong geometric rhythm occurs across the building’s surface, also reinforced by the geometric range of designs within the ‘alphabet’.

Geometric disruption is generated by the hand drawn, organic patterns that retain their ‘hand quality’, even when industrially rendered in metal. The patterned translucent surface also disrupts the overall geometric focus. The interplay of shadows penetrating the window sections and onto the bricks and paving at certain points in the seasons, also contribute to the disruption. In addition, the building colours behind the screens will break up the geometric rhythm of the screens’ panels. read more... read less