Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) will be planted in the courtyard. Its seasonal inflorescence coincides with the start of school in September. Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) will be used in the courtyard beds.
Bamboo elliptical planters being formed and prepared for planting.
Bamboo elliptical planters being formed and prepared for planting.
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOLWatertown, Massachusetts
The addition to Watertown High School's cafeteria space designed by Kennedy & Violich Architects generated renewed interest in the existing interior courtyard. The courtyard was appropriated into the project and turned into a green garden and social room. Composed with a mixture of grasses with green and purple bamboos planted in elliptical planter beds, the design included a lawn and a paved walkway between building wings. The courtyard provides pockets of space for sitting, reading, talking and laughing and is an aesthetic and seasonal looking glass, a habitable 'hang-out' for the community.
The challenges of this project included the creation of a usable and dynamic space that can withstand the wear and tear of teenagers, provide an exterior room, incur minimal maintenance, and meet the School's fiscal budget.
Architect: Kennedy & Violich Architecture Ltd.
Designed: 2004 | Built: 2005
