“The Green House” — A net-zero energy building
As part of the continued expansion, Dulwich College recently built their Phase 3 building. In November 2023, the college proudly unveiled The Greenhouse – a net-zero energy, seven-story educational building, that provides a safe and inspiring space for their students to thrive.
“The Greenhouse is a pioneering education and experimental hub for our students. It is a centre to learn, research, experiment, and ultimately grow and empower the next generation of innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers of tomorrow.”
Creating a Multi-Purpose Space
The Greenhouse boasts a 400-seat multi-purpose auditorium, a STEAM workshop – providing a space for hands-on experimentation and collaboration, allowing students to build prototypes from recycled items while being seated on furniture crafted from upcycled materials. A professional teaching kitchen, film and media suites, three Blackbox theatres, and a vast IB library and workspace for our pre-university students.
“Our commitment to the next ten years and beyond shines through the daily lives and actions of our teachers, students, and parents, who have helped transform The Greenhouse from an idea and a building into a real, living representation of our shared values and dreams for a brighter future.”
Eco-Friendly Design Features
As part of the design, we fitted out four key areas:
1) D&T/Recycling Lab
A reclaimed, refurbished theme to reinforce the eco-friendly ethos of the building. Everything in this space is specifically repurposed or recycled – with the whale sculpture and recycling point taking center stage to reinforce the underlying message to learners that it’s not all about consumption.
1a) Furniture
1b) Recycling Point
Created from two cable drums with OSB worksurfaces around the edge creating the well-known recycling logo, this feature accommodates a plastics waste collection point, granulator and sheet press/chiller putting the reuse of materials center-stage in the open workshop.
1c) Equipment
The freestanding A1 laser pro has been positioned against the only solid wall in the workshop, next to which we’ve proposed wall-mounting the 3D printers, bringing them up to eye level. The sublimation printer and silhouette cutter (and the Heat Presses) are proposed to be central to the space on repurposed cable drums.
2) Textile Lab
A textiles lab, with a reclaimed and industrial design.
3) Food Court
We also created a food court area with ties to local Singaporean street food culture reflected in the design.
4) Relaxation Space
Finally, we created a tranquil relaxation space for students with raised seating.
The Result
”The Greenhouse’s value lies in its ability to give its students a renewed sense of ownership and confidence, as well as the tools to lead and make a positive impact in our world.”
Dr Desmond Lee, 2023
