adelaide miethke kindergarten - south australia · pdf filequeen elizabeth hospital cedar ......

November 2015DRAFT

Adelaide Miethke KindergartenOutdoor Learning Areas

Concept Design Report

2 ADELAIDE MIETHKE KINDERGARTEN CONCEPT REPORT

Prepared for

Revision A - Draft 10 November 2015

ADELAIDE MIETHKE 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.


2.0This section provides a thorough description of Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten’s existing outdoor learning environment, its wider context and important aspects of the outdoor space to retain and build on.

The Site


Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten is located within the Woodville South suburb, west of Port Road and resides on City of Charles Sturt Council land. The site is predominately accessed from Cedar Avenue, however parking also occurs to Oval Terrace with Adelaide Miethke positioned in the wedge of reserve between the two roads. There is no obvious entry point into the Kindergarten.

The Kindergarten is surrounded by open reserve with a community playspace to the south of the outdoor learning area. Significant pine trees intersect the Kindergarten and predominately surround the outdoor play space.

The adjacent location of community land provides opportunity to further connect to the local community and deliver a play space which offers a varied play experience to what is currently provided adjacent the site.

Local Context

Port Road

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Cedar AvenueWoodville Road

Oval Avenue

Surrounding Reserve Adjacent recreaction space

Adelaide Meithke

Kindergarten


Issues & Opportunities

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 Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten have been listed below.

Issues

Pine trees dominate the space: Currently planted on site are 13 significant pine trees which intersect the site. The pine trees have been raised as a safety concern and an arborist report has been completed noting the extent of falling pine cones due to the cluster of pine trees, as well as the high level of activity to occur under these trees. It has therefore been raised with Council as a concern.

The site is on Council Land: The Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten is on Council owned land, and therefore an approval process is required during the course of the concept development. This may become an issue with timing and project delivery.

Entrance to the kindergarten is not obvious: First impressions of Adelaide Miethke questions the point of entry. Due to its location within an open reserve, there is no defined pathway to the pedestrian gate, and no obvious point of entry to the building once within the outdoor zone.

Pine trees restrict understorey planting: Due to the covering of pine needles and amount of shade, the amount of low level planting is restricted. Orchard zones as well as themed garden planting will require review and be dependent on the location of the pine trees.

Generally surface materials a worn and tired: The surface materials, such as artificial turf, sand pit edging and paving to the building edge is well worn and could be upgraded. The sand pit sand is an ongoing maintenance issue with the need to sweep the sand back into the sand pit regularly after use.


Issues & Opportunities

Opportunities

Outdoor learning area is adjacent an open space reserve: The open space reserve provides an ideal backdrop to an outdoor nature play zone. Having already a community space adjacent the outdoor learning zone, allows for the opportunity to extend this community space and provide a varied offering for nature base play. Natural shade due to existing pine trees: Although the dropping of the pine cones is an issue, the natural shade to the outdoor learning zone is a benefit. Natural shade means minimised shade structures, which improves the aesthetics of the space, and provides a more open experience. Relationship with parents and families: Adelaide Miethke has a close relationship with their families. There is opportunity to further engage with the parents and families of the Kindergarten to determine key outcomes for the outdoor learning space, as well as provide a sense of ownership. Already a parent has provided a boat which will be incorporated within the design. Raised garden and sensory pathway: Currently Adelaide Miethke has a beautiful sensory path with mosaic animals incorporated. Surrounding this path is a raised planted mound and amphitheatre. There is opportunity to retain this space and further define it as a special place within the landscape.


Consultation Process & FindingsThe following description outlines the process of consultation undertaken by the centre and JPE during the concept development process.

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; • City of Charles Sturt, • OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle), • the children, • parents and,• the community.

Following this initial meeting, the Kindergarten undertook consultation with the children and families during an Art Show they were holding. During this session the Kindergarten were able to gather a sense of what the children would like to keep, what they love, what they want to see in their new space and why. They also voted on key items that they would like to see.

Some of the key items to come from this consultation were as follows;

• Children were drawn to mud play, water – getting dirty

• Bike track is important to keep – wheeled toys – helps with opening conversation, especially for the occasional care age group

• The outdoor space feels like a ‘wonderland’ – ‘oasis’

Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten believes in instilling a sense of identity and well-being within their Children. The Kindergarten is a space where expression is encouraged and open, and with a multi-cultural community, confidence and belonging is paramount.

Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten values all voices big or small. The consultation process for this project involved engagement with children as well as families, parents and council representatives.

3.0


Consultation Process & FindingsJPE met with the Kindergarten again on the 21st August along with key stakeholder representatives such as the parent group, City of Charles Sturt and OPAL, for the first design workshop 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 items from this workshop included:

Things to keep:• Sand pit

• Swing frame – balance & climbing

• Slide

• Trikes/wheeled toys

• A mix of challenges

• Amphitheatre – how do you use this space within the

new design - currently not used

• Extend fruit orchard

• Cubby house – but could be relocated

• Climbing structure – good for height but not for dramatic

play

Wish List: • Wooden boat – being provided by a parent

• Setting for wooden boat e.g. climbing nets mimicking

waves/sails

• Integrated sandpit accessible on both occasional care

side and kindergarten side

• More planting – edible planting

• Crow’s nest – height

• Inclusion of the history of Adelaide Miethke

• Climbing tree

• Tee pee – a community built activity

• Tranquil spaces, contemplative, meditation

• Spaces to look up into sky

• Improved entrance

• Butterfly garden

• Bird houses

Following this meeting, the Kindergarten undertook sessions on nature play with Simon Hutchinson from Climbing Tree. A focus of much of this was around freer exploration and investigation and a better understanding of personal boundaries and ability levels.

In addition, consultation with Council also occurred regarding the existing pine trees and a decision was made to design the outdoor learning area to keep all trees, until further directed. The school’s preference is to remove all pine trees, however it has been identified the higher risk trees are those to the center of the play space.

first design workshop spatial sketches second design workshop review and amendments

Using the information from the stakeholder workshop and the information from the Kindergarten’s consultation with the children, JPE prepared a spatial arrangement plan and initial concept master plan for the site. JPE met with the Kindergarten again on the 30th October for a second design workshop with representatives of the parent group, the Kindergarten governing council to review this design for the outdoor area.

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


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 Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten will guide the development of the outdoor learning space design as well as further development for the school.

4.0


Key Design Principles

Create a Play Destination Create a supportive outdoor space with challenges

suitable for all abilities and young play groups providing a varied offering of play

The new ‘Backyard’Open the outdoor learning space for community

and create incidental learning experiences children can’t get at home

Supporting ChildrenExplore opportunities to integrate children’s ideas

and knowledge, encouraging a respectful and inclusive environment open to everyone


Final Site Master PlanThe adjacent concept design for the Adelaide Miethke 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 response connects the concept of ‘growth’. ‘Growth’ is reflected in Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten as well as

Adelaide Miethke, the person.

Adelaide Miethke Kindergarten is a centre focused on growth of children’s abilities as well as being open and inclusive encouraging children to grow with confidence and expression.

Ms Adelaide Miethke was a pioneer for women in education and paved the way for young children and especially women in the growth of their educational needs and equality of educational outcomes. She established Adelaide Miethke Children’s Centre, opened in 1953.

Across the outdoor learning areas different challenges for varying ages have been considered. The spatial arrangement has been loosely based around ‘growth rings’ radiating from the undercover walkway zone and main entry into the space.

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

orchard zone and raised timber veggie patches with incorporated storage zone and seating

music wall to fence line which can be altered and changed throughout the year

hanging storage fixed to the fenceline to allow for tools to be stored or hung suitable for use in the orchard zone

climbing ‘tree top’ structure, a focal play item for the space, integrating multiple challenges and accessible to all

pine cone caves are dotted around the site and are made of a wire mesh and filled with pine cones collected from site

a sensory pathway winds its way around the play spaces, allowing opportunity for wheelchairs to also navigate the space

new timber swing frame with 5 pig tail hooks for in-built flexability

new boat (provided by parent) with nets and climbing ropes connected to the boat structure to evoke varied experiences and imaginative play

mud pit zone with water connection from nearby rain water tanks and mud kitchen

loose parts play area is a flat zone with loose rocks and logs for children to choose their own play adventure

retain irrigated turf zone

log round edge for balancing or informal seating zone whilst waiting for swings or the climbing frame

existing sensory path & amphitheatre with new posts to amphitheatre for added flexibility of use

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new double slide to platform

Kaye’s Garden gate to entrance of existing pathway. This gate makes tribute to Kaye, a long standing educator at the Kindergarten

An arbor structure forms part of the existing pathway entrance, and could be used to grow passionfruit as part of an introduction to the orchard zone

the location of both the small and larger sand pits is retained and joined to create a shared space. A bridge provides access of the sand pit whilst providing access under the bridge to each sand pit for little people only

possible new shelter structure over walkway to protect from falling pine cones. This structure could also link to a new sand pit structure over the sand pit

relocated existing cubby with planting surrounding the edging, providing a soft back drop

real irrigated turf area

sensory walk with varying surfaces & sensory wall opportunities

trike track to the edge of the turf zone with a small bridge for height and texture change. This trike track can extend into the larger Kindergarten yard by opening the double gates

tranquil space & butterfly garden with small seating stools & pine cone cave

main entry to the building is retained

new viewing window with seat

maintenance and emergency access gates, a access path across the outdoor learning space has also been allowed for within the design

5.0Concept Design


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Concept Images

Tree Top WalkThe adjacent image is an illustration of the proposed bridge and platform structure.

This play structure will provide challenge to the space, as well as height, all access opportunities and utilisation of the existing pine trees.

The structure represents the idea of ‘growth’ having one platform closed and the other open as if mimicking that of a flower bud or butterfly.


Entry BridgeThe adjacent image is an illustration of the proposed entry to the Kindergarten, located over a bridge and across the sand pit play.

To one side of the bridge is a low sensory fence line (900mm) which separates the Occasional Care with the preschool space, made up of Perspex, timber slats and other viewing and interacting opportunities.

The bridge is high enough to allow for small children to access either side of the outdoor learning space via under the tunnel under the bridge. Opportunity to control access at times will also be designed into this space so that the tunnel does not become a safety concern.


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

Precedent Imagery


Next Steps

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.

6.0


Next Steps

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