South Malvern School

Here is a slightly oddly shaped school building, no longer in use but still here, because it dates to 1883, and is Heritage Listed.

The unusual aspect of this country school was the forward-thinking (for the time) concept of considering the children's health in the design of the building. This concepts were unique to the designs of Christchurch Architect Thomas Stoddart Lambert, and centered around ventilation and sanitation.

Though the cool climes of this Alps foothill location for the quarry-town school called for two fireplaces, and Lambert also wanted the children to remain fresh for lessons in the summer too, adding three sets of vents, the most easily visible being in an iron turret on the roof.

The school was not needed after 1960, but until recently served as an outdoor education base for a Christchurch Intermediate School.

A poingant recollection of the school as it was in the 1950s, by the teacher, is posted here.

A cool looking building, inside and out, NZPlaces would love a photo....

Image Credit: Google