ArtMade were engaged to design a new purpose-built childcare centre in the southwest Sydney suburb of Canley Heights. The constraints of a small site in a suburban setting prompted the design team to draw inspiration from the existing streetscape. The design reimagines the silhouette of the traditional dual occupancy house into a contemporary sculptural commercial building.

The proposal creates a sense of living in the green — using an architectural form and courtyard spaces to draw the landscape within. There is a continual visual connection between outdoor play spaces from the interior. This experience begins upon arrival, as users enter the centre they are pleasantly greeted with direct views to the central courtyard beyond.

Nestled within the built form, the protected centralised courtyard facilitates a seamless transition into the landscape from the surrounding playrooms and ancillary spaces. The project uses minimalistic forms, featuring a high off centre pitched roof adding a sense of openness to the interior spaces which are considerate but without excess.

The simplistic colour palette utilises stark contrasts to add a sense of depth to the building facades and create a sense of movement and intrigue within the visual field. The division of the facade into two solid outer forms and a primarily glazed connecting form create a sense of lightness and unity between the two heavy grounded outer forms.

• Client: Independent Operator
• Project: New purpose built childcare centre
• Engagement: DA
• Status: Unbuilt
• Capacity: 24 Children
• Area: 670.26 ㎡
• Value: TBC