SPACES Sept issue 2017

MIKU DIXIT, ARCHITECT
After the 2015 earthquake left parts of
this mid-century former schoolhouse
unsafe, the third story had to be
demolished. This project combines
a proposal for a new upper level and
rear “annex” space, with a renovation
to interiors of the floors below, it also
had a specific approach to both interior
and exterior. For the exterior facade,
we wanted to preserve the proportions
of the original elevation while stripping
away plaster, exposing brickwork,
and making south-facing windows
as large as possible. The interior
renovation of the lower floors followed
a similar approach, where plaster that
was used to cover the brickwork was
stripped away and seismic retrofitting
was expressed both inside and out.
All evidence of seismic reinforcements
including steel dowels, molding around
the mesh reinforcement of portals,
injection grouting, post-tensioning
and the addition of steel wide-flange
beams were all expressed as yet only
another addition to generations of
alterations to the original structure.
A clear spanning hall was created
at the top floor using steelwork and
the spanning capabilities of the truss
create an open interior space with
narrow skylights and a combination
of plaster and exposed brickwork
finishes. The use of modern materials
was used for the annex structure
which was hidden away behind the
hall. Lightweight steel and translucent
polycarbonate was used to create a
well-lit and ventilated space.
34 / SPACES SEPTEMBER 2017