Woodleigh School in Langwarrin isn't typical. There are classrooms and generous grounds to be sure, but the model for this secondary school was established as far back as the 1970s, with architect Daryl Jackson creating a series of "homesteads" set into native bush.
A science building by architect Sean Godsell in the 1990s reinforced the school's desire to lead rather than follow.
While the Jackson-designed homesteads recall the nuts and berry school of architecture from the 1970s, a number of them were not large enough to accommodate student numbers. Termites had also attacked some of the buildings.
A renewed school was planned.
"We didn't want to replicate the 1970s with our homesteads (six have been master planned and three have already been built). But we were keen to respond to the bush environment and, like the 1970s, extend the built form to the outdoors," says architect Sandy Law, director of Law Architects, who worked closely with project architect Jenni Webster.
Law Architects master planned the site among a complex series of overlays including flood and protected indigenous plant species. Their three "homesteads", a contemporary pedagogy of the portable classroom, not only take education into the 21st century but have also resulted in a series of awards, both local and international, the latter including one from the Association for Learning Environments. "We literally 'danced' around the former homesteads (these were removed) and endeavoured to entwine each one with the landscape," says Webster.
The homesteads, which accommodate about 75 students, have similar layouts and materials. Rammed-earth walls, spotted gum cladding and elevated steel roofs allow both the sunlight and the landscape to be drawn into the interior.
Recycled ironbark pergolas, with built-in bench-style seats, allow the indoors and outdoors to be blurred. "We were given quite a long list of requirements to accommodate so the floor plate is quite broad, hence the need to elevate the roof on glulam beams," says Law.
Each homestead includes three learning spaces that can be delineated with either curtains or operable screens. Even a joinery unit, adjacent to the open fireplace, can be wheeled to another part of the building if larger spaces are required.
Behind the fireplace/lounge area is a communal kitchen where students are able to prepare their lunches. Discussions can be held in the kitchen over lunch or students can gravitate to built-in window boxes for quiet study. "We're extremely fortunate that our climate lends itself to being outdoors. It's not uncommon for classes to be held on one of the terraces," says Law, who framed each homestead with a series of covered terraces.
Law Architects worked closely with landscape designer Sam Cox, who is renowned for creating naturalist-style landscapes in the same vein as his mentor Gordon Ford. For Law Architects, design, architecture and landscape are one, with internal spaces almost appearing as protected vessels.
"There had to be a strong connection to the landscape but importantly, to how students use these spaces. Most of their lessons are designated within the one homestead, so it was critical to make these spaces feel as homelike and nurturing as possible," says Law. "The spaces also had to respond to different ways of working, and also address different personality types within the range of students and their well-being."