On a challenging site with heritage, site contamination, flooding issues and set amongst existing residential dwellings in a small neighbourhood, this project involves the adaptive re-use of an existing residential building into a welcoming and interesting childcare centre for 38 children. The priority was to find the most effective way to refurbish the existing building with minimal new building works, while also ensuring that it’s the best design outcome for the children who are going to be attending the centre. Careful consideration was put into layout, light, safety, beauty, acoustics, educational effectiveness and more. Externally, the project maintains its single storey domestic building form to sympathise with the residential character of the locality and adjoining residential properties whilst minimising new building works required. Overall, despite a complex brief and site, the resulting building is bursting with exciting elements that will be a enriching and rewarding place for children to attend. Recently DA approved.
