< Back to Education & Religion

BMW Rosslyn requested the design of an early learning centre to accommodate about 66 young learners. Open play areas had to be incorporated in a secure, controlled-access setting that negates its harsh industrial context. Safety requirements and the need for a space that could be multi-functional also had to be balanced with severe space constraints. The building is organised around a central courtyard. This ensures security and offers constant visual connectivity of caregivers to play areas. Large covered patios become an extension of the classrooms; merging interior learning spaces with the exterior play area. A series of staggered light chimneys, an element that is well identifiable with industrial architecture, allows natural sunlight and ventilation into the classrooms. The building acts as a boundary that separates the courtyard from its surrounding context. Colourful aluminium louvres on the building envelope introduce a playfulness with which children can identify.