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The ambition of this project was to bring together an existing kindergarten and an early learning centre relocated from an existing site. Service delivery was realised via the innovative reuse of an existing technical studies building at the Ingle Farm Primary School.

An extensive consultation process involving all the stakeholders, leading to the development of a return of brief which expressed the client’s aspirational and functional requirements.

Planned to respond to Reggio Emilia Design principles, the design utilises the height and form of the existing structure including roof lights to bring natural light into the heart of the children’s centre and to create covered areas on the perimeter of the building with large areas of glazing and openings to enhance internal to external interaction.

The plan allows for individual, small and large group activities within an amiable environment that presents different opportunities for challenge, curiosity, experimentation, discovery and observation.

The external spaces of the new facility enhance and complement the new centre, created in what was formerly a redundant classroom space. The design team worked closely with staff to ensure that they had easy access to the external facilities, along with good visibility throughout the space for supervision. It was fundamental to the design to provide flexible adaptive spaces that could be used in different ways daily and change over time.

A diverse palette of colourful and aromatic plants in the garden beds and different textures on play surfaces such as bark chips, compacted gravel and grass provides contrast and interest, encouraging unstructured play and imaginative interaction with nature.

A significant gradient has been used to advantage with the incorporation of a swale to filter stormwater runoff and to provide another exploration opportunity, whilst attention has been given to ensure the entire space is safe and accessible to everyone.

Working in association with Melbourne based John Wardle Architects, the M² project provides state of the art facilities for postgraduates and local and overseas researchers in the fields of Materials and Minerals sciences. Occupied in part by staff from The Wark and Mawson Institute, the project provides an approximate equal amount of laboratories (including a Class 10,000 Cell Therapy Suite), teaching spaces and administrative areas.

With a high level of audio visual and IT infrastructure included in the brief requirements, opportunities have been explored to greatly improve and enhance methodologies of teaching and learning, with all areas capable of visual interconnection. At the heart of the floor plan, a ‘Theatre in the Round’ provides an innovative and immersive teaching and learning experience, enabling researchers to effectively exchange ideas and impart them to student and others.

Acting as a new ‘iconic’ entry building to the campus, the building facades are expressive of the materials and minerals disciplines and will ensure a striking contribution to the built form of the Mawson Lakes Campus.