Outdoor Learning Environment — Phillip Island, Victoria
Designed around the principle that outdoor space is curriculum, the Newhaven Kindergarten landscape provides five distinct learning zones — each one responding to a different aspect of early childhood development.
A natural turf zone with log seat, log step-over, and digging pit encourages unstructured, open-ended exploration. A dedicated water play area supports sensory discovery. At the heart of the design, an African Hut shade structure shelters a sandpit, sand play kitchen, and loose parts storage, with a beach-style entry that immediately draws children in.
A certified softfall zone beneath a large shade sail provides generous space for active physical play, while a verandah creates a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor learning environments.
Natural materials are used throughout — timber, rope, boulder, and sand — with dense boundary planting providing enclosure, texture, and connection to the natural world.
The result is a layered, nature-inspired landscape that supports the Early Years Learning Framework and gives educators the outdoor environments their teaching deserves.
|
