Pin/Taylor Pin / Taylor Architects, formerly Pin/Matthews, consists of Gino Pin a resident of NWT since 1971 and Simon Taylor, a partner since 2002. Key to their design philosophy is the creation of buildings that merge with their surround- ings — low in profile and subtle in texture. Community involvement in defining a project from conception through to construction has resulted consistently in projects that reflect their users. St. Patrick’s High School Addition (1993) with Graham Edmunds Archi- tects, and Weledeh Elementary and Middle School (2001),Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. 62º north. St. Patrick’s High School is well known for ‘the rock’, a natural auditorium of andesite that has become the focus of student activity. The entire school sits on a massive rock outcrop, and is modulated to follow the changing eleva- tion of the site.A bridge connects the ‘pod’, a small art centre and daycare, to the main build- ing, framing an entry to the school courtyard from the street.Trees hug the building and high level windows and skylights bring daylight deep into the interior. Metal cladding, chosen for its durability, overlaps in small fish scales, changing colour with the changing angles of the sun through the day and with the seasons. The Weledeh School completes the site, adding 5000m2 to the existing St. Patrick’s school, and enclosing the exterior courtyard framed by the original massing of St. Patrick’s. The combination of the three schools has cre- ated a series of interior spatial events where opportunities to gather, hang out, read and eat lunch are articulated by cascades of daylight. Each school has an independent visual identity and share a common gymnasium.The planning of the entire campus as an extension of the landscape, and the inclusion of a south-facing courtyard are a good example of success- ful integration of building and landscape in a northern context.
above: the courtyard between St Pat’s and the Weledeh school left: the exterior of St Pat’s, showing the aluminum wall tiles below: the Weledeh music room
On Site review 11
44
Spring 2004
Architecture of the Circumpolar Region
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