| 95 T T Kelly Deeks Nature-based environment ideal for early learners The Wilderness Early Learning Centre has been redeveloped from the previous McKenzie Residential School. IKON Architects ARCHITECTURE A trailblazing education development in Yaldhurst, Christchurch has brought nature-based learning to the South Island, and recognition for its designer IKON Architects, which won a New Zealand Institute of Architects 2024 Canterbury Architecture Award in the Education category. The Wilderness Early Learning Centre has been redeveloped from the previous McKenzie Residential School, which was built in the 1960s out of concrete block with a mansard roof. Although it remained in great physical condition, its highly institutional look was uninviting to say the least. Enter IKON Architects and a client with a vision for a nature-based learning environment. IKON’s client was Sean Dixon, managing director of Design Squared Landscape Architects, which incidentally shares an office with IKON. He provided a huge amount of input into the design and the project, completing the master planning, landscape design, and managing construction. As well as being rejuvenated, the existing building needed to be extended and altered to meet the operational requirements for an efficient, contemporary, and compliant early learning centre. The proposal by the IKON team, including director Henry Read, was to wrap the building with a 4.5m extension. “That gave us the opportunity to create large, covered, outdoor spaces, integrate new functions and provide a new façade for the building,” Henry says. “The conceptual strategy was to create the feel of a new building while maximising the amenity and value of the existing building. In that respect, it made working with the existing building relatively easy.” The result is a carefully positioned new wing with a central courtyard, a strong indoor-outdoor connection, and sheltered outdoor spaces that lead on to the centre’s orchard, vegetable gardens, animal paddocks, and onsite native forest. The building’s design worked to retain several large trees and the design carefully focuses on bringing the gardens indoors, such as through the internal sunken gardens and large windows. The design provides glimpses of nature in every space, even the roof- window over reception looks up to the tree canopies. The centre’s strong connection to nature and the land is reflected in the building through the contemporary reference to typical rural forms and materials. The existing wing incorporates macrocarpa rainscreen-clad walls and roofs, a durable, non-treated timber commonly grown in the area for planted wind breaks. This very different offering for the early childhood education sector is not only enjoyed by the full roll at The Wilderness Early Learning Centre, two other local early learning centres travel there on a fortnightly basis to spend the day in this unique environment. Henry says this special project was exciting for IKON to be involved in, and he loves to see it in operation. ”This is a beautiful, functional environment and it is so great to see the kids and staff enjoying all it has to offer.” “The conceptual strategy was to create the feel of a new building while maximising the amenity and value of the existing building. In that respect, it made working with the existing building relatively easy.” MECHANICAL SERVICE / LIFTS / ESCALATORS & INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL PO Box 35268 Christchurch 8640 Ph. 03 9805062 Email. info@dmsolutions.net.nz w w w . d m s o l u t i o n s . n e t . n z D&M Solutions Ltd Proud to support IKON Architects WINNER MASTER PLUMBER OF THE YEAR NZ Plumbing Awards 2019 Commercial Plumbing & Gas Specialists www.macmillanplumbing.co.nz 0800 LAST DROP 5 2 7 8 3 7
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