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WILDERNESS SCHOOL BROWN'S HOUSE

Brown's House, Wildreness School. Photo: Sam Noonan
WILDERNESS SCHOOL HISTORICAL BROWN’S HOUSE ADMINISTRATIVE CORE REDEVELOPMENT

Brown’s House, located centrally within Wilderness School, was historically home to the Brown Family and accommodated both boarders and day girls. The redevelopment needed a grand gesture, something to re-establish Brown’s House as the heart of the School community, and to create a welcoming and impressive entry to the School.

Drawing on the School’s motto ‘Semper Verus’, meaning “Always True”, the preceding ill-conceived additions were demolished, stripping back the multitude of layers to reveal base material finishes and fabric, restoring the ‘true’ form of Brown’s House. 


The architectural approach was one of simplicity and elegance. The new building, which touches the existing fabric ever so lightly with minimal physical connections, has been inserted between and under three existing buildings of varying ages and character.

 

The refined and elegant interiors were a result of the interplay of internal and external spaces. This provided a natural palette as a reference point for interior development, and the selected carpet was a response to the exposed stone walls and repetition of the timber balusters, reminiscent of trees in the wilderness. Originating from the Drawing Room, remaining in original condition, the selection of interior finishes creates a place to pause and reflect with an intimate, less corporate feel.


Grieve Gillett Architects has delivered an administrative function that meets 21st century requirements. Brown’s House is again a central meeting place for the school, a place that celebrates a rich history, and draws people together to create new memories.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Wilderness School

Location: Medindie, SA

Kaurna Country

Completed: 2016

Project Value: $3.5M

 

TEAM

Steve Grieve

Emma Scott

Elizabeth Little

Georgina Davis

Michael Buchtmann

Jaana Bithell

AWARDS

MBA 2017 (SA) Commercial/Industrial Building $5M to $10M

ABOUT

Grieve Gillett Architects is an award-winning multidisciplinary architecture, interior design, heritage and urban design practice on Kaurna Land in Adelaide, South Australia.

 

Our work ranges from education and health facilities, public buildings and urban spaces, commercial, hospitality and retail developments and interiors, heritage conservation and adaptive reuse, transport and infrastructure, performing and visual arts venues, and residential projects, including new buildings, alterations & additions, infill and multiple residential projects.

CONTACT

243 Pirie Street,

Adelaide 5000, South Australia,

Australia

 

Telephone

08 8232 3626

Email

admin@ggarc.com.au

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Grieve Gillett Architects acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation, and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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© 2025 Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd

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