CLAYFIELD PRE-PREP RE-DESIGN

George Kouparitsas Architects oversaw the design and project management of CLayfield Pre-Prep — a beloved early childhood learning centre in Brisbane’s inner north.

The brief for this project was to add additional rooms to improve the centre’s functionality and create new inspiring spaces to ignite the imaginations of the little kindergarteners who attend.

Given Clayfield Pre-Prep is also located on leafy Bayview Terrace, we also needed to ensure the design reflected the traditional character of the surrounding area. Ultimately, the building needed to maintain a residential feel and scale, whilst being a modern and inspiring learning space.

To create a welcoming new entry and foyer that reflects the nurturing learning environment of the Centre, we sought inspiration from three classic children’s books: 1) The Very Hungry Caterpillar; 2) The Secret Garden; and, 3) Where the Wild Things are.

New concrete pillars that line the entry feature playful circular cut outs, inspired by “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. These pillars uphold a covered patio which features a lush rooftop garden (“A Secret Garden”), which – in addition to providing eye-catching green space – also delivers practical function such as absorbing rainwater and regulating building temperatures (thus minimising electricity costs associated with running air-conditioning or heating).  

The green canopy over the entrance also provides children with a sense of walking into an exciting new world filled with nature (“Where the Wild Things Are”). We view this entry as a “transition zone” – an area that sets the playful, welcoming tone of Clayfield Pre-Prep and provides a connection to mother nature, hidden play spaces and literature.

Off the back of the existing building is a two-story extension that contains: offices; a multi-purpose meeting room for parents, the community and staff; a laundry; additional bathroom; and extra storage space). And while it’s two-stories out the back, we’ve used a stepped façade at the front of the building, to reduce the scale and enormity of the building from the street.

This helps keep us within the character code, and also ensures the building isn’t overwhelming for the little ones when they arrive for their day.

** Photography by Lucas Muro **