The building nestles into its hillside setting, using greenery and embankments to carefully conceal its 32 carparks and 150 child capacity, leaving a light touch on the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
The original site was home to a church built in 1949 which, since 2013 has been closed due to seismic safety issues. The church has been reinstated back into the community in the form of a centre.
It was imperative the character and architectural features of the church remained legible, so that the history of the building and site remained part of the new design. The lower basement level has been screened with earth and planting to ensure the church remains the feature of the site.
The overall design has been well considered in terms of sustainability and providing healthy environments for both children and teachers.
Natural Habitats completed extensive landscaping, from sandpits to gardens, turf and timber play features. With natural materials and sustainability key priorities for the client, 50% of stormwater goes to soakage in the roof and playground for watering plants.
Read the full project post by Smith Architects.
