Junior Learning Centre, St Mary’s Primary, Myrtleford

Project Details

Architects
No.42 Architects

Award
Winner Category 4 Renovation / Modernisation Under $2m

Address
St Mary’s Primary School 43 O’Donnell Ave, Myrtleford , VIC 3737 Australia

Submitter
Ken Woodman

Cost
$643,743

Photographer
Juliet Plowman

Project Overview

Following a fire the Junior Learning Centre was developed to fully support the Reggio Emilia learning approach for 50 students and two teachers.

The Entering space welcomes parents to gather and support their children in selecting appropriate reading. A nook opposite the entry couch allows for a changing presentation and a display cabinet respectfully showcases individual’s work.

The Building space enables the students to actively construct their understandings with social interaction. There are smaller spaces connected to this larger space for reading and reflection. The glazed area between the two larger spaces is a couch-in-the-round with the ability to close a sheer curtain to provide some privacy while maintaining supervision.

Learning though play is supported by the Moving space with a stage for performances. There are whiteboard faced cupboards with data projection and a small dress up store room with a Punch and Judy opening. The use of curtains enables easy space division. The space can be changed simply from a formal learning space to an active space with easy to handle low level furniture.

The Creating space is accessed from both these areas and supports creative play with a cooking and wet area with easy access to materials. This is linked to the undercover verandah space where both art and food preparation is undertaken with vegetable planters and a wash down sink. It can be enclosed by large external curtains to provide an outdoor room or an outdoor stage facing a grassy bank.

Talking is an enclosed tiered space for direct delivery with whiteboard cupboards and data projection. This space can accommodate all students if necessary for presentations, didactic delivery, and skills based teaching.

There are various other different social and learning settings including relaxing couches and an acoustic box for Meeting with whiteboard walls for brainstorming. Externally the landscaping provide opportunities for experiential learning with balancing logs, water play, grass mounts, sand pits, wet and dry creek beds and vegetable planters.

Juror’s Comments

Despite the constraints of a limited budget this project has achieved the desired and clearly articulated objectives.

The judging panel were delighted by the design process which used the words of the children; the key stakeholders as the basis for the development of the learning environment. The verbs; Entering, Talking, Building, Reading, Moving, Meeting and Creating became the themes which were richly explored to establish the learning settings which fully support the verbs. As a result the spaces are distinct and interconnected. The panel however expressed some reservations about the use of curtains and the robustness of these in a high use environment.

The decision to shift pedagogy in the school to a Reggio Emilio approach was taken after investigation into a range of possible educational philosophies. The environment created is an authentic expression of Reggio principles with the children as learners being the focus of attention and the environment taking a quiet supportive role. It is overall calming and relaxing with some colour being used to differentiate spaces.

Care to incorporate as many environmentally sustainable features as possible were also evident in the brief provided with double glazing, insulation, energy efficient heating and cooling and low energy lighting. The attention to water recycling and rubbish collection as a learning focus within the centre was noted by the panel.

The school and the architects are to be congratulated for their approach in utilising challenging circumstances including a fire as opportunities to rethink and reimagine learning. A brave and bold project taking the community strongly forward on the design and development journey to a successful