Darlington Review - June 2017
Mundaring Christian College
The Leading Edge in School Design There is excitement galore as construction has commenced on Stage 2A of Mundaring Christian College’s Secondary campus in Parkerville. Although it may look like bricks and mortar to some, what is being created is a meticulously planned example of excellence in educational learning spaces. From the orientation and aspect of the buildings to the colours and natural materials used and the precise flexibility of each of the learning space configurations, every single detail has been designed with our students and environment at heart. Unrefuted experts in designing educational facilities, Broderick Architects, draw a parallel between our students as seeds, teachers as the gardeners and the school as a garden where growth takes place. They ensured that the school has a warm feeling that is calm, natural and inviting.
The College’s current Secondary building was designed and built for makers and artisans, allowing for the full curriculum to be catered for from day 1 of opening in 2016. Amongst other things, Stage 1 was created for cooking, science, designing and art. The building is unique in that the workshops and specialist areas are not tucked away in a shed but have been given the same value as traditional classrooms. The Art studio, woodcraft and blacksmithing workshops, an ICT design lab and a large exhibition space are grouped together to facilitate collaboration. If you look at the details of the construction, you will notice exposed timber and steel and a range of purposefully selected textures and materials which make the building itself part of the learning, not just the shell for the learning environment. Stage 2A comprises around one third of the final Stage 2 construction, which will house general learning areas, library and ITC zones and a large central space for assemblies. Instead of individual classrooms, these learning communities will be more like a university or modern offices with large spaces for gathering, seminar rooms, meeting rooms, booths and alcoves. All the walls will be available for teaching. This will allow for all permutations of learning settings and social groupings. There will be open air courtyards and gathering spaces, and space for further aqua- and permaculture gardens, in line with the College’s connection to the land. Broderick Architects feel blessed to be able to work with such a pristine environment and a school team who don’t revert to standard and are committed to the best pedagogical outcomes. Please join with us in praying for safe and speedy construction of Stage 2A, and anticipating with excitement the incomparable learning environment it will offer our students from 2018. We would love to show you around our campuses. Find out why Mundaring Christian College is more than a school by phoning 9295 2688 for a personal school tour.
Darlington Retirement Accommodation Assoc. (Inc) “The Glen”
Darlington Glen Retirement Village currently consists of five freestanding independent living villas in Pine Terrace, Darlington near to village facilities and public transport. The Glen is in part a resident-funded project, subject to the terms of the Retirement Villages Act 2009. The residents new and old are enjoying the sunny autumn weather and the peaceful ambience and birdsong which abound in the beautiful Darlington Glen gardens. New friendships are being made, fulfilling one of the prime objectives of the Darlington retirement village. This peaceful ambience may be temporarily disrupted whilst the refurbishment of Unit 5 gets underway. This refurbishment may
take up to 3 months but will likely cause little or no inconvenience to the existing residents. All trades people will be made aware of the requirement to keep noise and disruption to the existing residents to a minimum. The Darlington Retirement Accommodation Association (Inc) will hold the AGM in August or early September and all members and interested parties will be advised prior to the event. The DRAA committee meets every two months with a resident representative as part of the committee. Any Darlington resident interested in joining this committee please forward an expression of interest to secretary Carolyn Earnshaw at email address: grandi@wn.com.au Colin Merritt
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