Located in Balwyn North at the edge of an established community park, the Minifie Park Childcare Centre Redevelopment replaced an ageing 60-place childcare centre with a new, 80-place capacity centre.
The design solution was informed by user feedback and the latest government and independent studies concerning Early Childhood education. We maintained an emphasis on improved flexibility, passive security practices and highly functional educational spaces.
The new facility includes a formal reception area, staff rooms, long day care and kindergarten spaces, maternal and child health rooms, community use spaces, and over 700 square metres of new landscaped play area and additional car park. The redevelopment of the Centre was conducted in two stages to ensure services would remain operational.
The selected site presented significant challenges including a steeply sloping parkland adjacent, large existing trees and limited car parking. The design response embraces the setting; incorporating a green roof of 5,500 indigenous species vegetation, chosen to create an improved habitat for insects, butterflies and birds. The green roof also helps to reduce the visual impact of the building from the park. The design also incorporates several ESD initiatives including rain water harvesting.
Photography: Kim Dumayne Photography