Category: EIW Projects

The 13th Annual Learning Environments Australasia Awards have been announced and we are so thrilled to share the news that the Albeus Fahey Building at Iona Presentation College was a joint winner in category 2 (New Construction / New Individual Facility over AUD $8 million). The extensive design process incorporated a focused design thinking program, led by NoTosh, to identify the opportunities for developing the teaching and learning experiences to be embraced by Iona Presentation College. EIW Architects participated in developing and articulating a rigorous design brief that informed the learning environment concepts. We are so incredibly proud of this project and grateful to everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition.

The judges said:

The Albeus Fahey Building combines a bright contemporary interior cloaked by an exterior that perfectly complements the surrounding buildings – harking back to the early days of education in Western Australia.

The interior is visually stunning with extensive use of glazing and tall voids creating a feeling of light and space that inspires contemplation. Irregular shaped rooms provide visual interest and the challenge of furnishing these spaces has been met well. Traditional learning spaces make way for less rigid and formal spaces that spill out seamlessly into common areas. There are subtle differences between spaces that define their purpose without losing the overall continuity.

Excellent connectivity between spaces (both vertically and horizontally) contribute to a sense of cross curricular collaboration and cooperation – creating a multi-disciplinary “real world” environment.

A mixture of formal and informal teaching spaces lend themselves to different pedagogical styles with the opportunity to host class sizes ranging from the intimate to large-scale with little effort.

Extensive use of timber and natural textiles creates a warmth to the interior spaces and full-length glazing adds to the visual appeal internally and externally.

The external landscaping ties in well with the building and provides excellent linkage to the rest of the campus. The Presentation Walk in particular is a delight, cleverly illustrating the history and origins of the College in an innovative fashion.

An excellent example of a contemporary design that still retains its linkage to the past. This will no doubt become a place where students and teachers feel inspired and energised.

Congratulations is also due to PS Structures Pty Ltd, who also won in the AIB Professional Excellence in Building Awards, under category: Commercial Construction $25 million to $60 million.

Photos thanks to Castledex

The team at eiw were thrilled to hear their redevelopment of the early years space at Nanjing International School was a category winner in the 2020 Learning Environments Australasia Awards! The project was the overall winner in category 5: renovation / modernisation under AU $5m.

We are grateful this enriching and collaborative project has been acknowledged, we would like to say a special thanks and congratulations also to:

• Nanjing International School
• NoTosh
• Four Landscape Studio
• Lucid Consulting
• Capital House Australia

eiw were successfully shortlisted in an international design competition for the redesign of the early years space.

Following a design thinking collaboration between NIS and NoTosh over 2 years, eiw approached a design concept by building upon the two stated goals:

• Putting student voice and choice at the centre of things
• Bursting the bubble

All of the project scope area is the learning environment – both internal and external.

As a renovation, we relocated traditional corridors to redefine the journey through the area, providing new experiences, not just for the early years but for all the primary school students, giving them an opportunity to observe, share activity and interact as part of the wider community.

The approach to the Early Years precinct was scaled for small children as they begin their learning adventure.

Developing the southern entry point that features the existing ‘friendship gate’, that leads through a play area and enters from the ‘sunnyside’ builds expectation,

The design, based around the Regio principles, proposed 6 home hubs. Each Home Hub is made up of a series of connected zones, allowing for the different types of learning and social interactions to take place. At its heart is the Campfire, expanding beyond the blurred boundaries to embrace the Watering Holes, Cave spaces and Life spaces.

The watering holes build the child’s experience in sharing and playing with each other, either across classes or age groups. The Home Hubs connect and touch through their Watering Holes.

The balance reflects the culture – of the principles of well being, acting in harmony with people and nature.

See more photos here.

Congratulations to all award recipients!

Jury Citation:

Student Voice + Choice and Bursting the Bubble within the context of being in China. The objectives of this project in empowering each child and allowing freedom in living and learning have been clearly articulated in the design solution.

The planning process applied universal terms, related to natural experiences to develop a common understanding of the purposes of both connection and relationship spaces. The terms are aspirational and set the tone for nurturing development of the project and the people during the process as well as in the completed place.

The “Project Nest” enabled participants to safely share their thoughts and opinions openly and anonymously throughout the process. The structures of client groups can create the silent majority. Clearly, all views in the Nanjing project are encouraged and respected. This approach reflects the values of the School in learning.

The spatial response is an excellent integration of gentleness and resilience, providing flexibility for students and teachers to grow and discover. The material and furniture choices reinforce the essence of the project.

Creative use of bamboo in cabinetry and landscaping enhances the aesthetics, is sustainable and provides a recognition of place within the world.

The people who use this place will develop within a context which breaks down barriers between culture, whilst respecting the character of the individual. Clearly, the outcome is highly appropriate for an international school. In Australasia, most communities are or need to be able to respond in the same way as the stakeholders in the Nanjing International School Early Years Redevelopment.