Baker Kavanagh Architects
BKA was formed in 2003. Our experienced directors, John Baker and John Kavanagh, strive to create architecture of honesty, imagination and integrity. We have offices in three locations – Sydney, Newcastle and Dubai – working as a unified team, but aware of, and responsive to, local issues in each location. Sustainability is part and parcel of our designs, and our work shows that sustainable design is also smart design, producing buildings that perform both for the environment and our clients’ needs. Educational, commercial, hospitality and residential projects of all scales, from individual houses to large multi-unit developments, are the main focus of our practice.
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Projects:
Mill Hill Residences
Bondi Junction NSW, 2009
The Mill Residences project inserted two luxury apartments within a substantially intact early Federation church in Centennial Park East. Two new terrace houses were built adjacent. The adaptive reuse of the building allows for its continued conservation, with elements of primary significance and contribution to streetscape retained and restored. Work visible to the street was limited to restoration and repair. This approach allowed for extensive remodelling to the northern concealed facade of the building, to create private outdoor areas for the apartments inside. This was especially critical due to the limited outlook available through the existing leadlight windows. The new work is designed to respect the rhythm and scale of the surrounding housing stock, with the simple steel and glass aesthetic at the rear of the terraces provides a clear contrast to the ornate ecclesiastical detailing adjacent. Materials were reused were possible, including excavation fill, rafters and bearers. The vast north facing windows of the church were designed after extensive solar modelling, to allow controlled sunlight to the interiors, and also serving to ventilate the building .
Jebel Ali School
Dubai UAE, u/c
This project involved the masterplanning and building design for a new 1200 student school catering for K – A levels. The challenge of translating the village-like spirit of the existing school into the new larger campus informs the masterplanning design. The traditional educational models of “courtyard” and “street” were employed in its planning. Green streets branch off from the main entry, providing clear circulation and separating the learning stages from the shared facilities within the school. Semi-outdoor in nature, they connect and showcase the activities of the school. Seating and landscaping provide informal gathering spaces for the students along the streets, and key stage “courtyard clusters” maintain distinct stage identities within the wider school. The key stage courtyard model arranges a variety of functions around a central shaded landscaped space. Visual connection and acoustic privacy is maintained between realms. Natural light to the interior is maximised and the students easily supervised. Facilities include drama theatre, sports hall, swimming pool, gymnasium, dance studios, science laboratories, library, design technology facility.
Mosaic Apartments
Leumeah, NSW, Australia, 2008
Mosaic is a residential development located in the south west of Sydney that comprises six buildings of varying scale designed around a central courtyard area. There are 174 units including garden apartments, townhouses, loft style and one and two level apartments. Most units overlook the central landscaped garden that features resort style facilities including a 25m lap pool, children’s wading pool, gymnasium, barbeque facilities and shaded child’s play area. Baker Kavanagh Architects were engaged to undertake design development and construction documentation.
