Green Sqaure

BVN's competition-winning design maximises the site's L shape by extending the built form to Zetland Avenue and Portman Street and bringing circulation to the inner edges. This massing strategy prioritises a strong civic presence and a direct street address while preserving open space beside the adjacent childcare centre.

Through-site links running east to west and north to south maintain public passage, connecting neighbouring Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre and The Joynton Avenue Creative Centre. The school taps into these to expand its capacity to deliver specialised sporting and cultural education to its diverse student cohort.

Vibrant learning settings inside and out

Across Levels One and Two, seven learning hubs centralise home bases around meeting rooms, wet studios and presentation studios. Each hub is designed to service diverse learning and teaching scenarios, including co-teaching, while being flexible enough to adapt to emerging needs. Adjacent verandas offer sheltered, outdoor learning spaces where small groups can break out in the fresh air.

The rooftop engages little learners with shaded playscapes and an educational garden by Turf Design Studio. A place to stop for lunch and a generous staircase connecting Level 2 to the playground above, the open-air amphitheatre provides terraced seating with views out over the Drying Green Public Park of Green Square.

The building's distinct identity is achieved by a Flexbrick screen that wraps the structure in a loose-weave brick 'veil'. Four different shades and textures of bricks suspended on stainless steel cables reference the historic masonry buildings surviving from the former South Sydney Hospital nearby. The screen provides privacy and shade to the verandas and outdoor learning areas behind, while encouraging cool breezes to pass through.

Designed for the community

A key design move made to encourage community use of shared facilities was moving the multipurpose games court from the rooftop to street level. Games and events now activate the visually prominent street corner which is further enlivened by First Nations storytelling with a landmark artwork by Archibald Prize winner Blak Douglas. The Belly of the Feast transforms the courts' walls, floors and ceilings into a striking mural, signposting it for community use.

Green Square Public School and Community Spaces is an ambitious collaboration where design is key in resolving the complex demands of a tidal, all-ages population. Clear pathways and discreet security lines assist in managing flow before, during and after school while a design approach that aspires to create a playful and welcoming atmosphere ensures both school children and the community feel a strong sense of belonging.