Photos of the completed The Green Elephant Early Learning Centre

                                     The Green Elephant Early Learning Centre,
                                         Rosebery, Sydney New South Wales, 
                                                      Construction: J M Landscapes


It was a total pleasure working with Greg And Effie to create a design for this purpose built centre. It makes a great difference to have owners and architects who are both knowledgeable and enthusiastic to embrace the benefits of natural play environments. I have previously discussed the emergence in Sydney of centres such as this in my post Childcare playspace design response to population density changes. The Green Elephant Early Learning Centre is an outstanding example of a project where consideration was given to the use of the space prior to the build rather than attempting to retrofit an unsuitable space after the design.
 

Nature Table

Just putting the finishing touches to a nature table, then off to its new home. The table is made from reclaimed wood and the critters are firmly locked in place with perspex and then sealed against the elements. The centipede has been placed in natural hollow in the wood and then covered with perspex to rectify the levels and stop busy little fingers from taking it home. 

SMART SCHOOL

SMART SCHOOL

Quite impressed by these architects and the concepts they've employed in the design.

"The vision for the Smart School project is to create a new type of school – a “School Park” – that unites architecture and landscape into a unique learning environment and gathering point for the local community. The design of the project is based on a both unifying and expanding concept that bridges between school complex, nature and modern society in the form a diverse, including and activating learning environment. The complex is organised as a permeable ring of buildings, which contain the main functions and are grouped around a central outdoor space. Each building and function expands towards the centre in the form of directly related outdoor area and together these areas form a diverse arena for experiential learning and pedagogical synergies. The very active and social spaces of this central campus are contrasted by a calmer and contemplative landscape of natural and agricultural areas outside of the ring, which allow the school to be partially self-sufficient and are included in teaching activities.


The buildings are connected by a large roof surface with distinctive eaves, which gives the complex a recognisable identity and creates a series of roofed outdoor areas between the offset volumes. These zones dissolve the boundary between the indoor and outdoor spaces by creating a diverse transitional zone for learning and physical activities, play, social interaction and relaxation. Special emphasis is put on the spaces in between the buildings. They are programmed for a double purpose in order to utilise their potential as both access points and links between different functions. These roofed common spaces combine the elements of intimacy and contextualisation that tie the wider complex of school buildings, the central campus and the landscape together."

Sneak peak tour of The Green Elephant Early Learning Centre

Was privileged to get a sneak peak tour of The Green Elephant Early Learning Centre today. Should be finished soon. Looking forward to sharing photos of the completed project with you

 

The Secret Garden - Uijeongbu,South Korea - Olson Kundig Architects

OK — Secret Garden

More photos and a complete description of the project can be see through the hyperlink above.

This is a phenomenal project designed and built by exceptionally skilled and perceptive architects in conjunction with a talented artist. I  have previously posted here on the emergence of a trend in inner Sydney to incorporate childcare centres into high density residential and commercial complexes.

Picture property of Olson Kundig architects

The 20,000square foot (6096 metres) is called the Secret Garden and is located on the 9th floor of a department store in Uijeongbu, South Korea. The outcome of this project indicates that the architects were included from the initial stages of design and serious consideration was given to the financial and structural requirements of the project. I say serious because so often such projects are considered adornments to the hardworks and only looked at in terms of residual funds and space, liability and limited or no regard is given to the buildings structural integrity.

Hope and Healing for Children Affected by Domestic Violence | ChildCareExchange.com

Hope and Healing for Children Affected by Domestic Violence | ChildCareExchange.com

An excerpt from the above article. To read the full article connect via the hyperlink . You may need to create a free account, which gives you five credits to read five articles for free, a great resource.

I came across this article whilst reading another one on design strategies for domestic violence shelters at the Building Dignity site which can be viewed here, http://buildingdignity.wscadv.org/site-design/parent/.

Picture is property of and link to AIFS - Mandatory reporting

Natural healing

A more naturalized outdoor space can provide an alternative to the playground for traumatized children that allows them to move in ways that heal: walking or running on pathways through plantings, or dancing to soothing sounds made by rain sticks or an outdoor marimba.

 At Family Shelter Service, Mary Kay Inc. and the Mary Kay Foundation approached the shelter with funds to create a naturalized outdoor play space for their children. The outdoor space is filled with separate areas for planting, building with blocks, climbing, moving along pathways, digging in sand and soil, making music, dancing, and exploring and manipulating natural materials such as wood chips, pieces of tree branches, and small logs. Program staff attended a workshop to learn ways to use nature in children's daily learning, and the program has recently become a certified Nature Explore Classroom. Mary Kay Inc. and the Mary Kay Foundation, as part of their efforts to support families affected by domestic violence, and to provide opportunities for children to connect with nature, have also funded the creation of Nature Explore Classrooms in four other domestic violence shelters in New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, and California.

"We see these Nature Explore Classrooms as a critical tool in helping to end the cycle of domestic violence that so often passes from generation to generation," said Anne Crews, Vice President of Government Relations for Mary Kay Inc. and Mary Kay Foundation board member. "The classrooms will provide a safe, peaceful, and quiet place for children who have been abused or witnessed abuse to play, learn, and most importantly, to heal."

Shauna Bigelow, Shelter Children's Counselor, describes the benefits of connecting with nature on a daily basis for the children in the Family Shelter Service Residential Program:

"Nature provides so many lessons for us. As the children explore, they are learning about life cycles, change, uniqueness, responsibility, and stewardship.

"A young girl learning to water and care for a small plant is also learning to care for herself. A little boy watching a resident killdeer protect her nest begins to explore family dynamics. These lessons open the children's minds and hearts, and the healing begins."

Numerous studies have shown the profound benefits that all children receive from connecting with the natural world. Children affected by violence are especially in need of the soothing benefits of nature. Children who witness traumatic events may feel helpless and experience the world as unpredictable, hostile, and threatening. Spending time in nature can provide reassurance through the predictable routines of the seasons, the gentle way leaves sway in the wind, and the comforting beauty of flowers in bloom. Children can also heal by engaging in caretaking activities. As children water plants or trees, pull weeds in a garden or feed the birds, they begin to define themselves as nurturing individuals — an antidote to the sometimes violent parental role models they experienced.

Australian researcher, Almut Beringer (2000), who conducted research on how nature heals found that "experiencing healing through nature may initiate or strengthen an ethic of care for nature."

Texture panels

Completed and on their way to their new home these three texture panels are to be mounted in an under two's playspace. All the panels feature components or have components that have been treated to weather the weather.

The panels feature a variety of timbers, different metal and metallic finishes, 9 imitation and cloth textures, leather, rubber, hessian, brass, ceramics and repurposed plastics. The timber components have been sectioned and sanded so that a child running their hand across an item will feel a gradient of textures from the raw untouched surface through to the wood after it has been finely sanded.

Each panel contains three coloured sorting trays that children and educators can fill with a variety of textured natural components.

The final panel contains a tiny dinosaur locked in a knothole in amber colored perspex. Why? Because I could and everyone loves a surprise.