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Text description provided by the architect. The Larapee Child and Family Learning Center provides a warm and welcoming environment for local families to play with their young children and connect with other parents, center staff and any service providers they may need. Named after the palawa kani of the Flowerdale River, which flows through much of Waratah/Wynyard City, the center is closely linked to its wider geography , establishing strong ties with the region.
The center’s plan draws on the duality of Wynyard’s urban grid juxtaposed with the meandering river, using these two contextual elements to shape the architectural design. A small house, meandering brick walls and fences, recessed seating areas and characteristic plantings help to activate the street, providing a safe perimeter and exciting and interesting pathways to the centre. The building is largely linear in plan, with a circulation spine separating administration and service areas from social and play spaces, opening to exterior areas to take advantage of sunlight and wind protection. The east side of the building curves slightly around an existing eucalyptus bush, taking advantage of views of the wetland creek below and helping to bring the natural environment into the play space.
The training room is used by smaller groups and service providers within the centre, and is positioned to enable the main space to be closed off so that community groups can use it after hours or at weekends. High-grade polycarbonate cladding gives the space a cozy glow that, when viewed from the street at night, indicates the space is being occupied. The main interior spaces are designed to be comfortable, calm, inviting and solid; the overall experience is one of familiarity, like an extension of home. Play is an underlying theme throughout the built and natural playgrounds, providing elements to challenge, engage, stimulate curiosity and improve gross motor skills.
The simple structural grid and timber truss roof allow for internal flexibility and spatial modulation. The ceiling rises intermittently, and skylights focus the view to the top of the tree and connect it to the sky, both important aspects of children’s development. Communal kitchens, lounges and child-oriented spaces are zoned leading to external play areas, and storage units separate education, wet areas, consultation and staff spaces while still allowing visibility for ongoing supervision. A light color palette is used throughout the center to highlight the colors in the landscape and provide an environment that is not overly stimulating.
The flowing expression of the balconies and the irregular grouping of supporting columns confirm that this is a playful, child-centred building. This threshold element helps regulate the interior environment and provides a sheltered play space for children to safely embrace the season. The outdoor play spaces continue the theme established within the centre, with a dynamic relationship with the landscape forming the overall character of the facility. The design draws on elements of a typical home backyard to provide sensory, play-based learning opportunities.
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