"The Light of Learning-siting and designing a regionally appropriate
elementary school."
Every place on earth is uniquely composed of various
phenomena, such as climate, topography, qualities of light, latitude,
ambient moisture levels, etc. We are each profoundly affected by
the unique way these general qualities combine in our particular
region, and Norberg-Schultz argues that this connection begins at a
very young age. It allows us to know our place in the world, to
orient ourselves, and to find our "home."
Here on the West Coast, one of the most powerful
characteristics of place is the quality of our regional light: which
fluctuates from a warm August Yellow, to a low winter white. In
summer our skies are broad, blue and bounded only by the mountains
and sea. During the rainy season, ambient moisture turns the air
solid, as white light ebbs and flows through the cedar boughs and
around our buildings.
Through the design of an elementary school sited on the north
bank of the Fraser River Estuary, I attempt to explore how one makes
"place"-in this case a place of learning-which is both responsive to
site and appropriate to the unique characteristics of region.
During my design process the qualities of Regional Light
remain the principal generative tool, with the central circulation
spine acting as an organizing light scoop/stack ventilation, and each
classroom pod bringing natural light in on at least two sides to
create a non-glare learning environment.
Other key considerations are the programmatic need for dual
school/public access to the site, the reintroduction of natural
habitat from the adjacent river-front park, and a respect for the
layers of history which have shaped the site before its current
zoning as an elementary school.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/8040 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Coleman, Graham Cameron |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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