This ground-breaking 207 place early learning centre located in the heart of Brisbane demonstrates a successful collaboration between Architect, Landscape Architect and Engineer to overcome various technical challenges. An operational requirement to provide an ‘outdoor’ space inside the building influenced the layout of learning spaces and the provision of a central indoor play space that incorporates natural planting, timber, stone and artificial turf to provide a space that is symbolic to the outdoors.

The indoor play area (approximately 1,000m2) offers a multitude of activity areas in a ‘sub-tropical rainforest’ setting with raised floors and undulating turf mounds. Catering for children from 6 weeks to 5 years the play space design ensures a safe and welcoming environment for all. Each learning space flows directly from large door openings into the elongated play space. The design of the play environment drew upon Greenedge Design’s creative thinking and collaboration with Goodstart’s early learning experts. The play activities include bike circuits, rolling mounds with slides, a tunnel, stepping logs and rock scrambles, sand pits, water play, running space, a tree platform with artificial tree, timber bridge and quieter zones like the tepee or the chair pods.

An approximately 700m2 roof garden was also provided as play space and a staff outdoor courtyard. A spider’s web climbing net is a focus of the roof with winding boardwalks, mounds, planters, bamboo tepee, climbing rock, mud kitchen, vertical vegetable planters and bespoke leaf seats linking the spaces around the central atrium structure.