5 minute read
Outdoor Learning Area
KING’S BAPTIST GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA TAKES AN EXTERNAL APPROACH TO LEARNING
WORDS RICHARD KLEINIG, PRINCIPAL, JPE DESIGN STUDIO
The new Outdoor Learning Area at King’s Baptist Grammar School’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) encourages varied educational experiences and risktaking opportunities that support the important relationship children have with their environment. With a key focus on fl exible and nature-focused play, this contemporary landscape has been designed to easily change and adapt with each child’s imagination, inspiring them to be challenged, take risks and engage in creative activities to shape their learning future.
JPE Design Studio worked closely with the school community, engaging them early in the design process to share ideas that helped form a distinct design language unique to the school’s desires. The outcomes gathered in the consultation process were critical in ensuring the school’s objectives were successfully interpreted into the landscape design and responded to the present and future needs of this progressive early learning facility.
Throughout the design process Clare Williamson, King’s Early Learners Director, and staff embraced risk-taking and innovative opportunities, reimagining what is possible for early learning environments. The result is a unique landscape that pushes beyond traditional expectations to create a response that addresses the project brief requirement for a space — “[representing} excellence in outdoor learning environments.”
As a direct extension of the Reggio Emilia learning principles applied indoors, the outdoor learning area at King’s Baptist Grammar ELC focusses on empowering children in the confi dent exploration of environments through fl exible and engaging experiences. Encouraging children to push their boundaries and learn through discovery and active participation, the landscape leaves room for the imagination and gives both teacher and student the opportunity to shape their space into something diff erent each day. Catering to the diverse range of curricula off ered at King’s ELC, this new outdoor learning area delivers activities that support learning through research, investigation, movement, and discovery.
The education philosophy employed at King’s ELC was a key driver behind the design, with the learning landscape needing to embody contemporary education and the Reggio Emilia pedagogy. Responsive to this, the outdoor learning area is open and inviting, creating an environment that encourages creativity, with no prescribed activities and no right way to use the landscape. The design fosters an enriching teaching and learning experience through fl exible play elements and activities that support the school’s education philosophy, promoting learning by doing and creating.
Changeable natural and living systems that evolve with each season are folded into the design, expressed through productive gardens, water pools, dry creeks, and deciduous feature trees. The native planting has been selected to complement the existing landscape and placed to maximise site views of the city and coast. Fostering a connection to nature, the kitchen garden and fruit trees not only provide an educational opportunity, but also give a sense of purpose and custodianship, promoting teamwork and care through cultivated growing.
“The planting of slightly advanced fruit trees in the orchard allowed us to have a crop of apricots in our fi rst season, which are already loved and well-watered features. We use our vegetable planters
inbetween the trees and have used the herbs and veggies in our cooking,” claims Clare.
Rainwater from the shelter roof fi lls the creeks and is collected and used for play and hand-watering the kitchen garden, with the creek fi ltering into groundwater at the end of its run. Wherever possible, the landscape design has utilised locally sourced materials, including boulders and logs salvaged from the King’s Baptist Grammar School site.
The considered placement of the landscape elements leaves space for imagination and creativity in how to move through and use the space. The timber platform, sheltered sandpit, log climbing structures and timber bridges that cross over the creek are simple and accessible features that allow them to act in many diff erent roles and encourage creative thinking. The timber platform can act as a stage, a pontoon, exercise equipment, a lecture hall or an island in the lawn sea. The variety of and relationship between spaces across the site provides changing experiences and conditions, with varied educational and risk-taking opportunities that create moments of wonder.
“We all enjoy the elements of risk such as the rock scramble, which includes weather-worn rocks that catch small puddles after rain, or the fi repits for sausages, damper, or marshmallows in the winter,” says Clare.
Working with and incorporating site topography proved to be a challenge for this site, which consisted of fl uctuating level changes. The landscape complements this, incorporating rock scrambles and considered planting in areas that would otherwise be too steep to traverse. The overall sense within the landscape is one of adventure and wonder. There are no straight paths, only corners to be turned, winding trails to be followed and discoveries to be made.
The stone scramble that frames the covered outdoor learning environment, acts not only as a play element but also as amphitheatre seating for outdoor lessons. The placement of the scramble complements the architecture and invites children to climb up as their main access to the wider landscape, encouraging them to embrace adventure. Drawing the multi-use rock scramble underneath the canopy blurs the boundary between building and landscape and merges the formal classroom with the playspace.
“The results of the collaborative approach and JPE Design Studio’s expertise is obvious to all who visit,” exclaims Clare. “We have already had other school’s leadership teams from the Adelaide area, and interstate, come for a visit. The children, families, and staff love this beautiful, inviting environment.”
Since opening in February 2020, this learning landscape has off ered a welcoming and innovative environment that enables children to be challenged, take risks, and grow within a safe environment. A new identity for the school, this landscape is a responsive design that creates a space the school can be proud of. Off ering a positive and enriching contemporary education experience, this learning landscape provides an exciting and varied environment for children to enjoy, supporting learning through activities centered on health, wellbeing, and adventure.
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