Location
Launceston, Tasmania
Client
The Department for Education, Children and Young People
Year
2023
Images
Natasha Mulhall
Land of
Stoney Creek Nation
Team
+
Alex Miles
SBLA Studio
Tarkarri Engineering
Green Building Surveying
Rare Innovation
RED Sustainability Consultants
GeoTon
Engineering Solutions Tasmania
Aware365
Muylatina Child and Family Learning Centre
A family and child support centre in northern Tasmania designed to feel like a part of a home.
The Muylatina Child and Family Learning Centre provides a fully integrated, interdisciplinary child and family service for the East Tamar region, focusing on the well-being and educational development of children and their families. Located within the existing East Tamar Primary School grounds, the centre’s exteriors reference the surrounding suburban streetscape, playing with the recognisable gable house form and supporting the idea that the space is not an institution but an extension of the home.
Balanced, Familiar, Playful
The centre operates as a single body, providing an individual point of contact for the local community, early childhood services, and family support services. Because of this, the design balances its function with a sense of familiarity for the community through its form and open, light-filled interiors.
Through considered material use, we’ve made a clear distinction between the public and more private spaces of the centre. The side facing the suburban setting houses the quieter zones: the admin area, staff hubs, and rooms for visiting doctors to attend to families. On the other side, facing the school, the interactive child areas, the sandpit and playground, frame the community kitchen — the ‘heart of the home’.
A strong focus on the ‘natural’ has been used in the playground with native flora and fauna dotted throughout the area to intrigue imaginations and challenge growing bodies.
A Canvas for the Community
Through discussion with the community at the beginning of the project we knew the building had to blend in with its suburban context to create that sense of familiarity and comfort for the families using it. The materials, just like the facades and general form of the centre, reflect the rhythm and aesthetics of houses along the street — brick, metal roof sheeting, and neutral colours.
The subtle colour palette was kept throughout the centre to allow both the children and staff to bring colour to the space and make it their own.
An Inclusive Design
The centre’s design was developed in close collaboration with the local community, the Department of Education and First Nation elders of the area. Beyond helping us shape the design, this collaboration allowed us to explore and highlight the history, stories, environment and culture of the East Tamar region.
MUYLATINA CHILD AND FAMILY LEARNING CENTRE
Form, function and real family ‘stuff’
Unwind the sit-up-straight structured Queen Anne era planning. And uncover a space that works for a moving, breathing, social family.
This 1908 home’s separate, privacy-driven structure was much better suited to an early 20th century family than today’s owners. It was our joy to loosen these tight spaces, do away with the incongruous and bring a sense of connectivity. By gently pulling back layers of history we aimed to reveal the dwelling’s true character. And to protect its history while designing for the gathering togetherness of a contemporary family.
Location
Launceston, Tasmania
Client
The Department for Education, Children and Young People
Year
2023
Images
Natasha Mulhall
Land of
Stoney Creek Nation
Team
+
Alex Miles
SBLA Studio
Tarkarri Engineering
Green Building Surveying
Rare Innovation
RED Sustainability Consultants
GeoTon
Engineering Solutions Tasmania
Aware365
Balanced, Familiar, Playful
The centre operates as a single body, providing an individual point of contact for the local community, early childhood services, and family support services. Because of this, the design balances its function with a sense of familiarity for the community through its form and open, calm, and light-filled interiors.
Through considered material use, we’ve made a clear distinction between the public and more private spaces of the centre. The side facing the suburban setting houses the quieter zones: the admin area, staff hubs, and rooms for visiting doctors to attend to families. On the other side, facing the school, the interactive child areas, the sandpit and playground, frame the community kitchen — the ‘heart of the home’.
A strong focus on the ‘natural’ has been used in the playground with native flora and fauna dotted throughout the area to intrigue imaginations and challenge growing bodies.
A Canvas for the Community
Through discussion with the community at the beginning of the project we knew the building had to blend in with its suburban context to create that sense of familiarity and comfort for the families using it. The materials, just like the facades and general form of the centre, reflect the rhythm and aesthetics of houses along the street — brick, metal roof sheeting, and neutral colours.
The subtle colour palette was kept throughout the centre to allow both the children and staff to bring colour to the space and make it their own.
An Inclusive Design
The centre’s design was developed in close collaboration with the local community, the Department of Education and First Nation elders of the area. Beyond helping us shape the design, this collaboration allowed us to explore and highlight the history, stories, environment and culture of the East Tamar region.
