Iona Stage 2B & 3A, Charlemont
Location: Wathaurong Country (Charlemont)
Category: Educational - Secondary
Architect: ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects
Year Completed: 2022
Project Description:
A newly established Catholic secondary school in Charlemont saw the addition of a Games Hall and a Specialist Learning Building, along with extensive landscape infrastructure to support learning, recreation and ecological systems for the expanding school community.
The project stitches the campus together, with additional sports courts, outdoor learning and seating areas, and key pathways to facilitate circulation across the campus. A detailed network of dry river bed swales meander throughout, connecting to the existing wetland in the south east and providing ecological discovery and learning opportunities on campus. The campus’ landscape character is further established through repeating existing materials and motifs, as well as introducing additional materials such as recycled ironbark, local mudstone and textured concrete. The planting palette works to further define the campus aesthetic, adding texture and form with indigenous grasses, sprawling shrubs and legacy trees, which will overtime anchor the campus into its surrounding context.
Image credits: tnla and associates