Description
During the last years, RMIT University consistently extended its campus in Bundoora, a suburb in the northwest of Melbourne. In 2001, the new Biosciences Building was completed. The idea for the two-storey building is based on the layering and connection of landscape and research areas. The end of the linear building volume cuts into the slope with a height difference of 6 m on a length of 160 m. Hence, both floors possess its own separate entrance at ground level.
The project reflects the architect’s passion for structural interpretations of architectural concepts, which shows in every detail. He describes the building as ”a rope with spliced end” that could merge with the next module. Six modular research areas follow the entrance building. Arranged on both sides of a central corridor, they accommodate large laboratories suitable for biomedical research as well as allocated deep service and equipment zones. A single-sided administration area completes the scheme.
The corridor between these modules widens into communication areas; vertically, these areas form ”light towers” that are fully glazed, thereby relating to the exterior. These spaces for events and communication are conceived as crosspaths within the building that at the same time allow daylight to reach the central corridor.
The exterior appearance plausibly reflects the various functions within the building. The entrance hall across the administration wing features an inclined glass screen split in two parts mirroring the sky and the earth, but not the onlooker or other buildings. With its aluminium ”visor” inspired by palisade fences the administration area clearly sets itself apart from the laboratory wings and links the whole complex to the campus centre.
The fixtures and furnishings of the laboratories are strictly functional and follow an austere and elegant line. The laboratory façades consist of horizontal strips of etched concrete and glass panels – the latter material was chosen to achieve even, diffuse daylight conditions. T-shaped sunscreen elements are fixed in front. On the first floor, they consist of etched concrete; on the ground floor, black steel interspersed irregularly with red wood was used as a reference to the red wood trees that used to grow here.
Drawings
Site plan
Schematic sketch of building
Ground floor
Second floor
Cross section through the laboratories
Cross section through a “light tower”
Photos
The entrance is accentuated by an inclined glass screen. It mirrors the sky and the earth, but not approaching onlookers or the surrounding buildings
Communication platforms with wavy polycarbonate balustrades are suspended within the towers
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.