Auckland, New Zealand
Phil Smith of Smith Architects has completed Kakapo Creek Children’s Garden, a 729-square-meter early learning center building with a circular-shaped green roof that can accommodate up to 100 children in the heart of Mairangi Bay to cater for their future education.
According to the studio, the design takes inspiration from the idea of Nga Hau E Wha, which means the four winds, being symbolic of a meeting place for people from all backgrounds.
The architects give the building a simple and elegant form, converting it into a circular shape to create a central meeting space.
The building consists of four main classrooms and art rooms, offices, and a planning room for staff – which are all arranged around the central courtyard – as well as a playground and car park outside.
“The shape of the curve was derived from the shape of the stream which forms the site boundary on the northern side of the building and helps root the building in its place,” states Smith Architects.
The studio aimed to connect children and provide larger meeting space and easy circulation throughout the building, for this reason, the four classrooms are fully glazed onto the courtyard which then allows connection between inside and out, and between the rooms themselves.
The elegant form of the building is topped off by a glued laminated timber also known as glulam – a ply roof canopy and green roof, further unifying the spaces beneath and blending the building into its natural environment.
The studio adds various sustainable and well-being features to the projects while providing its natural aesthetic through form and simple material choice.
For instance, natural ventilation is provided through the glazed doors and windows – carbon zero.
Heating and cooling are provided by electrical heat pump units hidden above the ceiling in bathrooms – cost-effective to run and low carbon.
The project incorporates extensive landscaping around the building and on a roof with native plants to enhance biodiversity.
Integrating a green roof into the building helps to reduce rainwater roof off by over 50 percent from the roof, as the studio explains.
All rainwater from the roof is discharged to the ground below the building, where it is cleaned by bacteria in the soil and gravel filters and eventually filtered back to the stream.
The studio maximizes daylight by using extensive glazing so that artificial lighting is not required in the daytime.
The architects have used Low-E glazing to reduce heat loss and roof and wall insulation well over the building code minimum.
The team has placed all services under the raised floor of the building for easy access for maintenance or alteration and refurbishment.
The studio has recycled materials from the existing house to complete playground finishes.
Project: Kakapo Creek Children’s Garden
Architects: Smith Architects
Lead Architect: Phil Smith
Engineer Team: Markplan Consulting Ltd
Contractor: Meridian Construction
Photographers: Mark Scowen
