Wilson School

By WSP Architecture

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Wilson School is the first purpose-built Special Needs School in New Zealand, providing educational care for children with severe mental and physical disability.

 

The school is located on land leased from the Wilson Home Trust. It is a tranquil and serene site in a well established park-like setting. The building connects quietly to the landscape and expresses a close relationship to nature without overwhelming it.

 

Its simple form in timber and glass, lies subservient to and beneath the surrounding trees and landscaping, and is therapeutic and calming for the users. There is a strong notion of ‘support’ as a key idea for the form of the building. This idea is expressed through the dialogue between the two key forms. The building is designed to make the most of natural lighting and ventilation, creating a sustainable and more enjoyable environment for the building users.

 

The project received full ESD funding for demonstrating environmental sustainability design principles.

 

Wilson School was awarded the NZIA Architecture Medal, the highest architectural award in New Zealand.

Professionals used in
Wilson School

WSP Architecture
WSP Architecture
Architects

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Professional

Creating what matters for future generations is the philosophy that underpins our core values and how we approach our architectural commissions.

We have over 150 years of history as a public architecture practice. Our acquired knowledge and skills over this time are coupled with continual research and innovation. Coupled with our wide project experience we apply this in our design work to create efficient, resilient, sustainable solutions benefiting the communities across New Zealand.

Our history is embedded in our core values focusing on the public good and creating an enduring legacy. With this in mind we build our relationships allowing us to engage and collaborate closely with our clients. We explore with openness and transparency, to deliver the best solution with integrity and responsibility, and valuing the natural environment and resources.

We are proud of having contributed to developing the vertical and horizontal infrastructure and environments that our nation relies upon over the last 150 years history and we continue our vision to create what matters to future generations.