Projects

A light, bright and welcoming campus extension for young learners provides a transition pathway to primary school.

Yarra Valley Grammar is a co-educational school in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The early learning centre is designed as a structured and supportive setting where three to five-year-olds can experience learning that focuses on play, social skill development and exploration. It caters for 72 children in three playrooms, with an extension for a baby room planned for the future.

Located near the main entry gate, the centre serves as gatehouse to the campus and heralds the metaphorical education journey for students. The design cultivates a sense of community and identity via bright colour schemes (green, red and yellow for each of the learning groups) and inter-connected learning and outdoor areas. Active learning and playing are promoted by making the spaces robust, lively, interactive and fun. When designing the spaces, we looked at them from a child’s point of view, taking height, access and safety into consideration. As a result, there are several nooks that can be occupied by children, or used as display windows for the children’s work. Openings in the building’s envelope are orchestrated to frame views of the mature gum trees nearby and of the Dandenong Ranges beyond.