1974 Giralang Primary School

Giralang School is not placed on its site, rather it rises from it in a sympathetic grey massing of bold and playfully challenging shapes, presenting an exciting sculptural silhouette against the sky.

Its authorship can be in no doubt, the deep-shaded eaves, soaring roofs, exhuberant clerestory lighting, quixotic shapes and an overall sense of fun in the use of simple building materials all proudly bear the authoritative stamp of Canberra’s most respected and thought provoking architects, Enrico Taglietti.

Excerpt - 25 year award 2001 for sustained architectural excellence

Royal Australian Institute of Architects - Jury award report

Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture RSTCA No: R080

It has been described in the British architectural press as being "like an adventure playground turned to educational use ... and must be accounted one of the very rare occasions when architecture has been used to eulogise an educational idea".

The Architectural Review - London

It is also worthy of note that this building received the 1977 Canberra Medallion Award and has been readily adopted to serve the continuing changes in our educational needs-indeed a school "for all seasons".

Excerpt 25 year award 2001 for sustained architectural excellence

Royal Australian Institute of Architects - Jury award report

photos : max dupain enrico taglietti © et

client : National Capital Development Commission

engineers: K.S. Sellick

landscape : Margule Sholten & Bombardier

quantity surveyors: Rider Hunt & Partners

builder: BEASEC

< opus