Places for Learning- Contemporary Designs in Education

‘Places for Learning – Contemporary Designs in Education’ engages the educational community by presenting the best of contemporary facilities in a published format. It allows the broader community a valuable insight into the school design process and also communicates vital information about the future direction for Victorian / Australian school design.

Project Details

Architects
Kneeler Design Architect

Award
Commendation Category 5 – Education Initiative or Design solution for an Innovative Program

Submitter
Robert Bienvenu

Photographer
n/a

Project Overview

‘Places for Learning – Contemporary Designs in Education’ publication series showcases the best contemporary educational facilities through the lens of an awards programme. As John Denton (a past Victorian State Government Architect) once remarked, ‘……..awards are an ideal means to improve the standard of outcomes across the board. By setting high benchmarks, other projects aspire to reach or exceed other entries and past winners.’

In addition to highlighting the best work, these publications provide a comprehensive reference through which schools and others in the education community can become aware of the creative diversity in building solutions possible for different learning environments. The projects shown and the accompanying commentaries can provide schools with a preliminary knowledge of and introduction to various architects’ work.

The publications also encourage ‘cross pollination’ within the design and architecture profession, whereby architects may be inspired and informed by the buildings presented by their colleagues.

An historic account of the school projects realised for each year is also contained within these books. The changing dynamics of pedagogy are expressed through these designs; in particular the response to planning solutions, and the manipulation of space to reflect the contemporary teaching and learning environment. Events such as peak funding generated by the BER grants is evident in the diversity of smaller projects presented.

Other significant details concentrate on post publication. Now the books have been in publication, their succuss whilst hard to measure, is twofold. On one handbooks have sold throughout Australia and Overseas. More pleasing is the encouraging feedback from all sources; Architects who feature and even those don’t, schools who were featured and importantly those using the books in preparation for future projects. we are very proud of the books, the hard work has been well rewarded and we dearly hope their circulation has made a positive contribution as an education initiative.

‘Places for Learning – Contemporary Designs in Education’  publications are available for sale here.