Darlington Public School, a small elementary school located in Chippendale on the outskirts of Sydney, won the World Building of the Year 2024 award at the annual Singapore Architecture Festival. It was a surprise for the architectural professionals present at the award ceremony, accustomed to larger-scale winners. The architectural project of this local public school nevertheless stood out among the 200 candidates in 18 categories (sport, health, transport, housing).
The Fjcstudio project, initiated in July 2023, is a renovation of old premises from the 1970s. The exterior facades combine brick bases and beige curved metal panels, integrating into the surrounding landscape. Very organic, this design creates open spaces facilitating the movement of children between the interior and the outdoor play areas. “The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, interior and exterior, form and materials, flow in a fluid and unexpected way”explained Paul Finch, program director of the World Architecture Festival. Natural lighting was favored to save energy and sawtooth roofs were installed to improve sunlight.
Darlington Public School in Chippendale, on the outskirts of Sydney.
© Brett Boardman
The architecture and design of the new school honor the Aboriginal community and its cultural heritage. The ancient Aboriginal wall paintings were photographed and reproduced in relief on the walls of the new building.
This is new recognition for Fjcstudio, already a winner in 2013 for the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamakione of New Zealand’s largest art museums. This year’s finalists include major projects such as Terminal 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport, with a “digital sky” and full greening, and the Cyprus National Star Observatory, with walls mirrored reflecting the mountains.
Darlington Public School stands out for its commitment to the integration of children from the Aboriginal community, who are often far from education. It offers specific literacy and education programs. The school has a collection of Aboriginal art.
