Reinterpreting Character – Pascoe Vale Primary School by Kosloff Architecture

A new extension at Pascoe Vale Primary School seamlessly blends into the existing 100-year-old building. Kosloff Architecture employs fine brick articulation and thoughtful detailing to blur the lines between old and new.

The heritage listed building designed by E Evan Smith was built in the 1920s and is a strong example of neo-classical school design. With a well-considered and almost playful sense of character, the new extension embeds subtle hints of the masonry language of the original heritage building, and the high quality of masonry craftsmanship and window detailing continue a sense of permanency.

While the exterior of the modest extension elongates the evocative memory of the original building the interiors encourage more open and flexible learning environments. The design also gestures beyond its boundaries; by removing the front fence the public realm opens right up to the building’s façade, encouraging more meaningful and deeper connections between students, parents and the wider local community.

Reinterpreting the character of the old, Kosloff Architecture has honed a response fit for a new era of learning while acknowledging the rich history of what came before.