The architectural approach to refurbishing the existing building was to present it honestly, with all materials and services visible. The very building became a teaching aid. A recurring motif was the use of fins in varying size, spacing and materials, which produce a moire effect on the light. We used these fins for graphics that can be seen from one direction and hidden from another view, and perforated aluminium to create a moire pattern effect the viewer experiences when they move past, over and under the signs. The shear scale of the building was another consideration. Down the main "street" connecting entrances and bisecting buildings and workshop, we designed a series of 7m high perforated navigational totems. The totems are completely self-supporting with no internal structure, and possess a lightness that belies their size. We were also responsible for developing a strategy that named buildings, located rooms, indicated pedestrian and vehicular movement in the open workshops, and took into account PPE, HAZMAT and emergency signage requirements.
