Through a process of research and exploration a number of ideas emerged as dominant and important aspects of the character of St Joseph’s National School Kilcock;
- The dominance of St Coca’s Church tower on the skyline and its visibility from the school yard.
- The relevance of St Joseph to the school; the patron saint of carpenters.
- The role of education to help children form social relationships with others and the importance of children coming together. The desire for an intervention that allowed for students socialising and awareness of their environment.
- The fact that the original school was built from stone left over from building the local church tower and the anecdotal architectural evidence that St Coca’s church was intended to have a church spire which was never built.-
- St Coca’s tower being a ‘’single bay four-stage tower on a square plan’’ and from the architectural style of ‘’Gothic Rivival’
- The ‘’Woodland’’ area is seen as a unique aspect to the new school design.
Having digested this information, the concept of a wooden tower under which students can sit was developed. It was felt that placing this at a distance from the main school access point will create a visual focal point within the playground while also being a place of quiet reflection.
Oak seats allow a place to sit, a place to bring a class for outdoor activities. The tower reaching to the sky like a gothic spire or steeple is a metaphor for students to aspire to higher goals in whatever tasks their future lives hold. To look to the sky while sitting on a wooden oak seats with their friends.
The work not only creates a space for children to socialise but reinforces the connection between the church tower and the school. The additional planting around the artwork consists of woodland plants and trees. This planting plan was developed in conjunction with Tierney Haines Architects.
Carefully selected joints and steel flitch plates create a detailed construction.
The intervention is unique and gives a sense of identity to the school as a place of character and spatial interest. This it is felt will enhance student’s daily experience at school.