Telephone +61 7 3844 1362
studio@shanethompson.com.au
47 Wahcumba St, Dutton Park
PO Box 1170 Fortitude Valley
Queensland 4006 Australia
‘D’ Block was the final stage of the redevelopment of the Built Environment Precinct at the Gardens Point Campus of the Queensland University of Technology. It houses the School of Architecture, Interior and Industrial Design and the School of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying.
‘D’ Block is the central design element of the Built Environment Precinct and includes a new ‘internal street’, which ties all buildings and circulation cores together in a simple and easily comprehensible manner. The lower and upper levels have been set back to enlarge the adjacent Artisans courtyard and allow winter sun to penetrate.
The sculptured form of the shared 242-seat lecture theatre is expressed independently in contrast to the efficient orthogonal geometry of the larger building. It is clad in ceramic tiles to emphasize its different functions and deal with the higher level of climatic exposure. The building has been designed with an almost industrial character, including raw materials and exposed services and structure. It is also designed for high energy efficiency through the provision of natural ventilation and light, and low life-cycle costs by the use of low maintenance materials and the easy reconfiguration of internal space.