Bridge Road Children’s and Community Centre
Bridge Road CCC was conceived to meet the needs of Melton’s rapidly growing population. It offers a welcoming, natural environment for the provision of a range of community services. Ochre Landscape and Brand Architects worked in close collaboration to develop the landscape which focuses on “education through doing”.
Project Details
Architects
Brand Architects & Ochre Landscape
Award
Winner Category 6 Landscaping/Outdoor Learning Area
Address
212 Bridge Road Melbourne, Victoria 3338 Australia
Submitter
Brand Architects
Cost
$6 Million
Photographer
Wuttke Photography
Project Overview
A large portion of the time spent at kinder is outdoor play and therefore the long term success of the centre equally lies with the success of the building and the landscape. It was essential that the design blend with the natural environment, be sustainable, low maintenance and energy efficient.
The design of the landscape was divided into five distinct areas, the front community forecourt, the north and south licenced play area, the south entry and the fenced community play area. Each area had a different brief and requirements, and needed a diverse response in terms of tree selection, landscape features and appearance.
Playgrounds, recreational spaces and associated gardens within learning spaces are vital for the function and appearance of the community centre, but most importantly are critical for the experience of the children, staff and parents. The landscape design for the Bridge Road Community and Children’s Centre provides creative and inspirational external spaces combining the principles of both natural and structural play. The plant selection was very important to Melton Council, and included plants with interesting berries, seeds, flowers, foliage and bark. Mature trees were chosen that can provide shade rather than installing shade sails. The hard landscaping included textured paths that provide different sensory experiences, such as crazy paving, wooden boardwalks, bricks and exposed aggregate concrete. All the features of the play areas were created with the children in mind, for example, the artistic features such as colourful bird houses and tiny white buildings that the children can paint.
The teachers at the centre are loving the landscaped play areas. They love the natural play elements, the large number of semi-mature trees, veggie gardens and the densely planted slide hill. The children adore the water play elements and the way they connect to the sandpits. These two items have been used as the centre logo being printed on tee shirts and carry bags. The playground structure and planting offer many imaginative play opportunities.
The Bridge Road Children’s and Community Centre sets an exemplary benchmark for future childcare and community centres.
Juror’s Comments
At a time when children’s natural curiosity is being side swiped by the demands of a busy schedule and the imposition of technology it is encouraging to see an imaginative and flexible design that is responsive to the developmental needs of 3 and 4 year old children. The Bridge Road Children’s and Community Centre is a well resolved project that has involved key stakeholders appropriately in the design process. Using children’s ideas and art work to inform the colour palette and material selection has been transferred in a functional and aesthetically pleasing manner.
To make an outdoor learning site practical, flexible and easy to use it is important to provide a number of different surfaces, variety of heights, distinctive textures, diversity of vegetation in form, size, fragrance and shape all under a sustainable and low maintenance umbrella. The execution of this design has carefully considered all of those elements and produced a stimulating and developmentally appropriate learning experience for these children, which everyone will adore for years to come. The variety of spaces to encourage gross and fine motor skill development, the balance between passive and active areas, opportunities to observe seasonal changes in the environment has been facilitated with a great degree of care and sensitivity and has provided a powerful place for learning.
It is pleasing to see outdoor learning environments carefully considered for these awards. Bridge Road Children’s and Community Centre is a landmark example of a well-executed project from start to finish. Congratulations to Brand Architects, Ochre Landscape and Melton Council.
