Sydney then and now: Binishells

The Killarney Heights Public School has some distinctive buildings in the form of Binishells.  The Binishell is a distinctive architectural and construction format developed in the 1960s and popularised in Australia in the 1970s by the New South Wales Departments of Education and Public Works.

These particular Binishells were designed for use as the school library.  

Then exterior (1974):

[ Dr. Dante Bini generously supplied this 1974 photograph and permitted use. ]

Now exterior (2009):

The Binishells at Killarney Heights Public School have proven to be very durable. Thirty-five years later, one of the only differences between the external views is that the earlier photograph displays wooden framed doors, and the later view shows aluminium framed doors.

Then interior (1974)

[ Dr. Dante Bini generously supplied and granted permission to use this 1974 photograph ]

Now  interior (2009):

The school library is now housed in a different, conventional building and the large Binishell has been converted to a multiuse venue.  Some school sport takes place there, such as gymnastics since it does not involve high altitude projectiles which would collide with the pendant lights and ceiling fans.  It is also used for meetings and assemblies.

To permit this multi-purpose use the sunken casual reading area shown on the floor of the 1974 view has been filled in. 

Copies of the original architectural drawings were made available to me by Dr. Dante Bini:

More information about Binishells and related other architectural and construction systems can be found here.

It looks like Binishells may also get a new life as a green construction method.

Comments

[George Lombard]

In fact there are Binishells in various Sydney schools even now but the Ashbury School Library Binishell is distinguished by having had its construction recorded, step by step, by the noted Australian photographer Max Dupain. Unfortunately I don't have the right to post any of them here but they can be obtained from http://gallery.mdaa.com.au/home.php .

[Bob Meade]

Thanks for that information George. I would love to see Dupain's pics. And compare them to David Moore's construction documentary series of the ANZAC bridge.

Master and apprentice and all that.