New Sculpture School, St Ives, Cornwall. Part 2 Project 1999 Peter Skerrett University of Plymouth | UK I often take refuge in the words of Juhani Pallasmaa; in his plea for an architecture of restraint and authenticity he speaks about "lyricising the real things of everyday life".My project examines those architectural equations which acknowledge the harmonisation of opposites as we find in such ordinariness.Within the three main elements of the school, in which the sculptors live, work and exhibit, there is an inherent conflict between private and public activity.In seeking an architecture of harmony, the courtyard provided an external 'street' which is both the threshold and the meeting place of each.Routes between pass through inside/outside spaces, creating a city within the building. By entering internal spaces via external routes each area retains its autonomy.Inhabiting the place in-between, the architecture acts as an intermediary; which welcomes the private self and yet affords an easy and comfortable alliance with our community and the natural world. Peter Skerrett joined the Diploma School as a mature student, with a background in theatre design. He used the two years of his Diploma studies to give architectural form to a personal set of values. He worked within the 'Humane Architecture' PgDip taught theory course and carried out his design project work within 'The Zen and Zeitgeist Studio.' The ZZ Studio seeks to engage with the essential nature of a building in use, and with the sensual and crafted dimension of architecture, without recourse to the dramatic. Peter Skerrett purposely chose small projects for his Diploma studio work, a private house in his first year and a Sculpture School for St. Ives in year two.His central intention throughout the two years, was to work with the idea of 'Ordinariness,' and to create architectural poetry out of the real things of every day life. For the first year and a half of the Diploma, Peter struggled to create a coherent archirectural language that gave form to these ideas, but his final design for the St. Ives Sculpture School, is a mature piece of work that gives clear expression to his intentions. His building design was supplemented by a carpet, sculpture, and plaques, all designed and made by the student.