WMK’s Northern Beaches Christian School (NBCS) project continues to receive significant attention – this time, for its interior spaces. The project has been shortlisted in the ‘public space’ category of the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) – Australia’s largest and most successful independent design awards program.

As the architects and interior designers of NBCS’ new learning environment, WMK reinvented the notion of a school. The design is a sequence of fluid indoor and outdoor spaces, from fully enclosed, to semi-enclosed, and covered areas – melding interiors and architecture together seamlessly.

Students learn in flexible pavilion buildings and outdoor interior spaces beneath a spectacular 3,000sqm canopy which generates energy, harvests rainwater, and cools the spaces below.

Under the canopy classrooms are superseded by flexible indoor/outdoor spaces. With a variety of flexible settings enabled with wireless technology, and no separation between classes, teachers and students create a multitude of learning opportunities within one shared environment.

“This is more exciting news for WMK and NBCS,” said WMK Managing Director, Greg Barnett.

“WMK won the top award for sustainability at the prestigious NSW Australian Institute of Architects Awards just last month. I’m delighted our interiors team is now gaining well-deserved recognition for their work on this unique project.”

“This is a truly innovative project,” added WMK Director – Interiors, Garry Slater.

“We have created interior spaces within an indoor/outdoor environment, pushing the boundaries of how school buildings are designed and used.” 

The winners of the IDEA Awards will be announced on the 18 November in Sydney.