Lighting in Design Q4 2022

PROJECTTEAM Architects: BPAS Architects Electrical engineering: KLS Consulting Engineers

Interior design: B-Sense, ORC Main contractor: MNK Projects Photographs: Burger Engelbrecht

Lighting for learning Curro Durbanville High School is an independent school in Durbanville with a high school phase that provides high-quality education for learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12. With state-of-the-art Sports and Academic facilities this school stands out from the rest. L ocated to the northeast of Durbanville in the Western Cape, the site forms part of the larger urban plan for the Phesantekraal area. The

part of the theatre, aesthetically and primarily from a functionality aspect. One specific example were the booth seats: The interior designers wanted to create a false skylight within the booths and therefore specified daylight ceiling panels that lay on top of the organic cut outs. In this way, it creates the illusion that you have natural light coming in above you, allowing the space to feel fresh, cooler, and inviting. “Lighting is a powerful tool in architecture, whether spaces are artificial or naturally lit – it renders the buildings and through successful application can enhance spatial quality and user experience,” explain the architects. “Being an educational project, function in terms of lighting selection was key; illumination to create a positive stimulating educational environment.” The interior designers concur: “Expertly placed lighting adds atmosphere to a space, bringing an interior to life. Great lighting creates depth and height and draws attention to your most impressive areas. We believe that the lighting in this project has created a vibrant space where learners want to be. It is definitely bringing energy and balance to the interior.” The school has been craftedwith a learner-centric approach through collaborative and investigative processes, and overall, the school responds to the

brief called for a high-quality innovative school with a range of cultural and sports facilities. It was im portant that the design process was not isolated to a single author. The scheme came together through a collaborative engagement with learners, teachers, and other consultants. Inspiration was drawn from the surrounding landscape and the mountains in the distance, the colour of the canola fields, and the materiality of existing structures located on and around the site. The design emits an exciting take on form, texture, and scale. Having vast experience in design of educational buildings and facilities, for BPAS Architects it was a collaborative process with specialist consultants and suppliers to achieve the desired outcome in terms of the lighting. Therefore, the lighting formed an integral part of the facility; from low level external lighting, feature curvilinear suspended strip lights which relate to shaped skylights above them in main lobby spaces, to specific lighting quality requirements in the respective spaces (cafeteria, teaching and collaboration spaces, studios, and labs). Well considered lighting forms an integral

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LiD Q4 - 2022