Faith Lutheran College Language Centre

Faith Lutheran College’s purpose built new Language Centre focuses on promoting use of generous outdoor/learning multifunction space. This two story screened volume provides respite from the elements and integrates with the adjacent more traditional teaching rooms.

The design aimed to create a memorable communal space that can be used for teaching, associated language events and larger school programs.

It has rapidly become a popular social space for students and staff. Longer term site planning will link this building and outdoor space with the proposed Library to the east which is due for completion early next year.

The Language Centre is dominated on the east by a large undercover semi enclosed space. This volume provides respite from summer heat, embraces the morning natural light, provides seating, teaching gardens and a space for communal functions.

The planning emphasis on the semi enclosed space reinforces the critical nature of these ‘in-between spaces’ that facilitate, in unplanned ways to social interaction between students, teachers and visitors to the college.

The new Master Plan sites buildings within the established grid but allows, within this formal arrangement, individual buildings to more organically respond the natural topography. As the Language Centre is the first stage of a larger building, the orientation follows and reinforces the established grid.

The planned breakdown of this grid is confined to the ground level towards the East. The planned future library will expand this less formal civic space. The external palette of materials includes elements from the original school design, but adds to the palette. This will allow the inclusion of more colour as a planned signifier on the communal building on the campus.

The building is designed for the teaching of language courses in Korean and German initially. Two spaces with wireless technology, laptops and interactive whiteboards provide primary teaching areas. Associated, visually linked ‘conversation rooms’ allow smaller supervised group work and practice the spoken language.

A small visitors pavilion and adjacent kitchen allows visiting foreign language speakers to stay in the school. The kitchen is also used as a teaching aid to study the cuisine associated with the specific language. A multimedia room with satellite connection means students can video conference to overseas students. There is a small staff room for language teachers.

For more information, please visit the Faith Lutheran College website.