School of Botany

School of Botany in Melbourne, Australia by Lyons Architects, 2004
 

The University of Melbourne School of Botany's recent expansion sits on the northern edge of campus, on Tin Alley overlooking Trinity College and facing the School's System Garden to the south. Lyons Architects responded to this context by treating the two long, main facades differently, the northern facade toward Trinity in patterned glazed brick and the southern, garden facade a composition of folded glass.

The north elevation attempts to relate to the School through the colors of the glazed brick (yellows and greens) and the naturalistic pattern of its composition. At the west end, metal panels predominate, brick relegated to the ground floor. Looking at the floor plan, it appears the architects grouped the smaller functions (offices, toilets, kitchen, etc) along the northern edge, so fewer windows are required. In turn, the building becomes introverted, focusing inward to the rest of the School of Botany and its garden.

While the courtyard facade has more glass, it also requires areas of solid, the architects opting for spandrel glass of various colors. The combination of folded planes and primary colors is reminiscent of the Heidi Weber Pavilion in Zurich, Switzerland by Le Corbusier, though I don't know if this was a point of reference for the architects. At the western tip of the extension, we see the two facades expressed as volumes, vertical circulation cantilevered in-between.

The color palette and angularity of the exterior is extended inside, a suitable contrast with the vegetation of the courtyard as one looks through the glazing.

The Botany North Extension at the University of Melbourne by Lyons Architects is the recipient of a 2004 Institutional Architecture Award from The Royal Australian Institute of Architects.