Urbis collaborated with Woods Bagot on the award winning design of Meadowbank Schools. A project that was recently awarded ‘Best School and Best Use of Colour’ by World Architecture Festival (WAF) in 2022. Meadowbank Schools is part of a new form of education facilities funded by the NSW Government, the school will cater for 1,000 primary school students, 1,500 secondary school students and a 120 place Intensive English Centre.
“The project is a once in a generation opportunity to create a learning environment for school students that is future focused, innovative and functional. An Education Precinct that is responsive to educational, economic and environmental conditions and requirements. A place that embodies the notion of life long learning, through local community outreach and considered engagement with neighbouring educational facilities, including TAFE NSW. A learning environment that is future flexible and adaptable to empower the next generation of students to excel in their education.” (Woods Bagot)
Building upon the architect’s design philosophy of “designing from the inside out by bringing the outside in” we have developed an integrated landscape design response which:
- Provides multiple connections with the natural environment;
- Responds to the architectural scheme by ensuring seamless transitions from indoors to outdoors;
- Connects with the existing trees and playground environment in an engaging and playful way;
- Enriches the learning experience through an educational landscape setting which provides a variety of scales, active and passive spaces and which achieves synergy between diverse, collocated precincts;
- Maximises outdoor learning opportunities that are flexible and allow customization and
- Offers a safe and secure learning and play environment
“The design intent was to respond to the natural topography, protect, retain and celebrate the existing remnant trees and create an optimistic, collaborative and playful landscape setting for the children. The central hill which wraps over the library provides an opportunity for the children to beautifully connect to the land, water and sky.
Mark Kuhne, Director
