Project Overview
We were selected following a competitive design process for the Marist College Canberra Master Plan. Our project design reflects the values and aspirations of the Marist community, creating a connected campus and laying the foundations for a long-term vision. Guided by the narrative of The Marist Journey, the plan weaves learning, faith, and environment into a cohesive framework that supports future development.
The design is framed around the core values: Honest. Kind. Industrious.
A transitional ‘green filter’ along the western and southern facades invites visitors to move through trees and gardens, promoting wellbeing. A new Chapel within the Village Green offers the first visible expression of faith. Kind and simple in form, the Chapel occupies a place of prominence, becoming the heart of the campus - a beacon. Quiet moments of faith are interwoven with the industriousness of learning, while a pinwheel cross brings order to the campus journey, removing barriers and increasing links.
The Master Plan fosters a sense of place through light, warm, tactile, and natural materials that invite participation and contemplation. The architecture seemingly ‘grows from the earth’, with solid foundations supporting floating elements on simple columns, allowing each component to be expressed as a distinct layer. Built forms remain contextual to Canberra without appearing monolithic, maximising connectivity to the sky and surrounding mountains through strategically framed outlooks.
Sustainability and adaptability are embedded throughout. Material life-cycle, standardised forms, and simplified construction provide value for money whilst minimising waste. Outdoor learning spaces and maximised use of controlled daylight prioritise connection to nature and wellbeing.
Veritas 2023, Stage 1 of the project, is the first built outcome of this Master Plan.
