preschool outdoor learning area upgrade, concept plans … · entrance into the building is also...

Solomontown Kindergarten Outdoor Learning Areas

Concept Design Report

November 2015DRAFT

2 SOLOMONTOWN KINDERGARTEN CONCEPT REPORT

Prepared for

Revision A - Draft 12 November 2015

SOLOMONTOWN KINDERGARTEN CONCEPT REPORT 3

contents

1.0 introduction

2.0 the site

3.0 consultation process & findings

4.0 key design principles

5.0 concept design

6.0 next steps


Introduction1.0

“Research across the world supports the view that outdoor play is fundamental to childhood. Opportunities for outdoor play and immersion in nature are essential to the health and wellbeing of children, helping them to develop to their full potential.

Further research evidence demonstrates that well designed outdoor areas not only connect children with the natural world but support learning and development.” (taken from the ‘Project Initiation Document’ PID)

The project objectives which have been set to guide the focus and direction of the outdoor learning areas are listed below;

1. Demonstrate the principles and values of authentic engagement with children, families and the local community

2. Strengthen communities through the design of culturally appropriate environments

3. To redevelop the outdoor environments in each of the sites to demonstrate the philosophy and practice of nature play in outdoor learning environments

4. To develop a space that fosters interaction, autonomy, explorations, curiosity and communication and offered as a places for children and adults to research together

5. Illustrate how and why the curriculum and the children drive the environment – to understand and promote the relationship between the outdoor learning environment and children’s learning and the pedagogical practices that enhance children’s learning

Ultimately this project will allow each site to gain the knowledge to support other preschool educators across the state as well as continually engage with their local community to help connect with nature.

JPE Design Studio is engaged to undertake the analysis, consultation, design and delivery of five selected DECD preschools, as part of a larger government initiative, which has already seen five sites completed. The study focuses on engaging with children through outdoor learning and nature base play.

Following the 2013 report “Re-imagining Childhood – The inspiration of Reggio Emilia principles in South Australia” prepared by Thinker In Residence, Carla Rinaldi, the Government of South Australia committed in March 2014 to provide more opportunities for children to learn and connect with nature and the outdoors. The delivery of new Nature Play based outdoor learning areas in preschools is an important step in providing these opportunities.


What is Nature Play?This project recognises the importance of outdoor play and supports the establishment of Nature Play SA, which focuses on encouraging not just schools, but families and communities to connect back with nature.

The fundamental outcome for nature play is encouraging children to play outside and reconnect with their local natural environment. JPE Design Studio’s role, together with the site leaders and site educators, is to redefine an outdoor space which promotes learning in and through nature, via play. The following overarching principles have been developed, underpinning the thinking behind key design moves and outcomes for each site;

Nature play is defined as a learning process,

engaging children in working together to develop physical skills, to exercise

their imaginations, to stimulate poetic

expression, to begin to understand the

workings of the world around them.

(Executive Summary, Nature Play & Learning Places)

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Use natural materials where possible; stone, timber, water, plants and soil.Create flexible spaces with movable, mouldable parts, which can change and adapt to each child’s imagination.Provide spaces which encourage research, investigation, manipulation and discovery.Create changeable natural, living systems which evolve with each season, eg. productive gardens, water pools, dry creeks.Create flexible spaces for a range of learning styles and curricular.


This section provides a thorough description of Solomontown Kindergarten’s existing outdoor learning environment, its wider context and important aspects of the outdoor space to retain and build on.

2.0The Site


Railway

reserve adjacent

Albert TerraceSolomontown Primary School

Spencer Highway

Solomontown Kindergarten is located in the regional town of Port Pirie, northern South Australia. The Kindergarten is accessed off one of the main highways into and out of Port Pirie, Spencer Highway, and sits within the residential area of Solomontown.

The site is accessed from both Prince Street and Three Chain Road, Three Chain Road running parallel to Spencer Highway. The car park to Solomontown Kindergarten is accessed from Three Chain Road and the pedestrian access gate is located fronting onto Prince Street.

Surrounding the Kindergarten is a Council reserve. To the eastern side of Spencer Highway is the Solomontown Primary School.

The railway line into Port Pirie is also nearby.

Local Context

Solomontown Kindergarten

Prince Street Three Chain Road


The following section outlines the key site issues and opportunities. By highlighting specific site issues and positive opportunities this can help guide an appropriate, site specific design response. The key issues and opportunities for the Solomontown Kindergarten have been listed adjacent.

Issues

No clear entry: The entrance to Solomontown Kindergarten is not obvious with many people entering through the wrong gate which is located within the car park. Entrance into the building is also unclear due to this access issue.

Located adjacent main highway: Solomontown Kindergarten have special needs children who are sensitive to some noises. The noise associated with the adjacent highway is uncomfortable for some children and needs to be managed within the centre. The danger associated with children having access to a busy roadway is also an issue.

Large site: The Solomontown Kindergarten has a large outdoor learning area. Although in some respects this is also an opportunity, due to the extent of contamination which may be found on site – remediation of a large area can become a financial concern.

Soil contamination and continual maintenance: Soil contamination and the ongoing maintenance associated with this is an ongoing issue for the Solomontown Kindergarten. This issue will need to be managed throughout the process of developing the design and through the development of the site in general.

Issues & Opportunities


Opportunities

Surrounding reserve: The land adjacent the Solomontown Kindergarten provides opportunity for further engagement with the community and council. There is opportunity for the centre to develop their programming of the outdoor learning area to incorporate use of the open area adjacent.

Community support: On first introduction of the Solomontown Kindergarten it is apparent that there is a strong sense of community and support within and around the centre. This can be drawn upon in the future development of the site.

Local nearby primary school: The local primary school could be seen as an opportunity for future engagement and collaboration. Students could help support the development of features or spaces within the new outdoor learning area.


Initially JPE met with the Kindergarten site leader, as well as key educators to walk the site and gather an understanding of key issues, site context and key stakeholders.

The key stakeholders were identified as the;

• Children,

• Community Coordinator

• Local education partnership community

• TLAP and SAHealth

• Port Pirie Regional Council

Following this initial meeting, the Kindergarten undertook consultation with the children and families creating a floor book which captured what they like within the existing space. The Kindergarten also took the children on an excursion to a local creek where they could then discuss with the children what they liked about playing in nature. They then displayed this on their entry wall to start to connect with the local families about the importance of interacting with nature.

The children enjoyed the challenge of climbing the big logs. They liked going into

the hollow tree ‘cubbies’.

Consultation Process & Findings

Solomontown Kindergarten is a warm and welcoming space, open to embracing all people and all abilities in learning.

Childs learning and expression can be in many forms depending on the varying child needs. Solomontown Kindergarten explores the multiple forms of exploration and learning for children within their outdoor space and integrates this within the new design.

Openly sharing ideas with each other as well as engaing with children and families in regard to nature play and learning, Solomontown Kindergarten have undertaken consultation which will benefit the future for their outdoor space.

Design workshop spatial mapping discussion

Design workshop spatial mapping outcomes

Solomontown Kindergarten Floor Book


JPE met with the Kindergarten on the 6th August and invited key stakeholder representatives such as SAHealth, and the Community Coordinator to gain an understanding of the following;

• site identity; why is this Kindergarten so special,

• further discussion of the site issues and opportunities,

• the context of the preschool both physically and how it operates within the community, and

• wants and needs

Some of the key outcomes from the discussion included:

Solomontown Identity:

• ‘A Place for Everyone’ – Solomontown is an inclusive centre for all children

• Community hub

• Strong link to an indigenous focus

• Mosaics & art

• Bush tucker and farming history as a combined theme

• Tractor is important to keep – important to Solomontown’s identity

• Entry and address to the street is important (and needs improvement)

• IPP – inclusive space, integrated with the complete outdoor learning environment

• Community ownership

• Connection to the Solomontown Primary School

• Connection to the community oval and open space

Wish List:

• Community zone with community garden,

• orchard and glass (perspex) house for veggies,

• fire pit for community gathering,

• yarning circle,

• large red gum stumps,

• little person entrance,

• sensory experiences,

• water,

• climbing, hills,

• seasonal planting,

• tall cubby on the side of a hill,

• height elevation,

• crows nest,

• accessible pathways to destinations,

• storage boxes, saltbush, small sheds

IPP needs: • water bed,

• music wall,

• movement experience,

• ribbons & ropes

Consultation Process & Findings

Using the information from the stakeholder workshop, and the information from the Kindergarten’s consultation with the children, JPE prepared an initial concept master plan for the site. JPE then presented the concept plan to a larger group including educators, representatives of SAHealth, the local education partnership, CanDoKids and the Lord Mayor of Port Pirie, on 15th September.

Following this session, a draft concept master plan was provided to the preschool for review and feedback for incorporation into the final master plan.

Design workshop spatial mapping

Solomontown Kindergarten’s display wall


Key Design Principles

In addtion to the overarching nature play design principles outlined at the beginning of this report, the following design principles, specific to the Solomontown Kindergarten will guide the development of the outdoor learning space design as well as further development for the Kindergarten.


Express the Kindergarten’s inclusive culture

Create spaces which encourage individual expression and belonging.

Maintain the Kindergarten’s identity

Build and strengthen the Kindergarten’s sense of identity and reinforce the special and unqiue

qualities.

Connect to the natural Port Pirie environment

Understand the local ecology and natural systems and select plant types suitable for the context.

Key Design Principles


Final Site Master PlanThe adjacent concept design for the Solomontown Kindergarten outdoor learning areas provides the school with a master plan for further development surpassing this project scope. With the consideration of project budgets and deliverables there are some items which may not be realised however the master plan provides a future vision for the site which can be expanded and implemented when possible.

The master plan has been developed using the data and information gathered in consultation with the Kindergarten as well as analysis undertaken reviewing the existing site parameters.

The design responds the Kindergarten’s mantra ‘Better Together’ and builds on

a deep philosophy of building a place of inclusivity, a place for everyone no matter

your background or abilities.

A key design feature of the outdoor learning space is the fire pit. This is designed so that all paths within the outdoor learning area come together at this one point. This is the point of belonging, a meeting place, a place for sharing, a place for everyone.

The following numbers provide a description of each zone within the concept plan.

a community space sits outside of the new outdoor fenceline. Although this space is still completely fenced it has been created to promote community use whilst still maintaining a secure area for the remainder of the outdoor space. The existing trampoline and tractor will sit in this zone and encourage play outside of Kindergarten times

the main entry into the Kindergarten has been relocated to become a more prominent entry way which will lead directly to the kindergarten building

existing tractor

log climbing structures will be incorporated into the community zone

a cubby will also act as a little person entrance with small gate and a lockable system incorporated

rock edge sand pit zone will act as a lagoon with timber jetty and existing boat adjacent

a log edge will provide varying textures and balancing opportunities within this zone

to the centre of the mud play zone and sand pit will be a raised rock mound with associated water pump which will collect in the small rock pools adjacent

rock edged mud play zone

quiet space amongst planting

open irrigated turf + mounding to soften the traffic noise and create height within the area

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a tunnel, mound and fort structure provides multiple challenges and play opportunities as well as the possibility to integrate access for all abilities

treed zone to the east provides a noise buffer to the adjacent highway

new pathway connection

ambulance + taxi only with new planted buffer

sensory wall opportunities

the camp fire is the ‘heart’ of the space with all pathways meeting to the centre pit

raised platform and pathway with varying surface to the IPP zone to allow for flexibility to the space, including height, sensory walls, hidden zones and open softfall zone centrally

a hanging garden is provided under the veranda to green and soften the space as well as providing opportunity for adding ribbons and sensory planting

loose parts and climbing play

orchard space with compost, worm farms, glass house and an outdoor log table

relocated swings

fringe planting

maintenance access gates

storage sheds

Concept Design


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Concept Images

Camp FireThe camp fire is the heart of the outdoor learning area. The pathways which form the main circulation space around the landscape meet at this one central location.

The camp fire is a place for gathering, cooking, sharing stories, painting and learning. The camp fire represents a place for everyone - common ground - and expresses Solomontown Kindergarten’s inclusive philosophy.


Tunnel with FortTo achieve more height in the space this fort structure, which sits at the top of a rock mound, becomes the best vantage point within Solomontown!

The structure allows for flexible, challenging play, integrating multiple access points for a range of abilities and ages.

The tunnel provides another experience again of going under and through the mound, as well as over and above.


Precedent Imagery

The imagery shown captures key design ideas, varying finishes, and materials proposed within the design response.


Following the endorsement of the concept master plan, the design will

be further developed and detailed, and documentation drawings prepared to

enable the works to be tendered following final review from the site leader.

The tender process and subsequent procurement of contractors will be

undertaken through the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure

(DPTI).

Following the appointment of a contractor, a start-up meeting will be held with the

site leader to coordinate site access and sequencing of works to minimise

disruptions to day-to-day operations and children’s access to outdoor areas.

Next Steps


Next Steps

preschool outdoor learning area upgrade, concept plans … · entrance into the building is also...

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