Location: Cowies Hill, South Africa

The school expressed 2 main problems for the new additions to solve:

Problem 1: A previous extension to the classrooms had been perched 3 storeys above the sports field level on tall columns, and consequently had been impossible for the maintenance staff to access safely over the years.

As a result the walls couldn’t be re-painted without the huge expense of scaffolding. The paint had worn so thin causing the plaster beneath to start disintegrating, and small trees were growing in the gutters.

Problem 2: There weren’t any existing toilet facilities on the sports field level. Whilst this affected the children during sports and break times on daily basis, it was also a problem when the school hosted its regular events on the field, with hundreds of people attending.

To solve Problem 2 we planned large male and female change-rooms & toilets on the field level.

Then on a level above the new change-rooms we planned a new music room, a multi-function space with it’s own kitchen and serving counter, and a generous covered veranda across the entire front. This offers a splendid event space with a great view of the sports fields below.

To solve Problem 1 the new addition steps 3 meters forward of the existing building on both sides.

This means that the flat roof over the new extension creates an easily accessible and sturdy level platform from which to maintain the top of the existing building, which is just a few meters above.