Island Bay Learning Hub

After four years in the design and planning process together with significant fundraising by the Island Bay School community, the new Learning Hub is now in use. The Learning Hub consists of a Community Space and Library; this is a place for the school community (parents, children and educators) to discuss, learn, share and explore together. The Community Space is a café-style environment including a kitchen with a mobile island unit. Bold, warm colours were used to draw attention and stimulate interaction.  The Library is an extension of the Community Space. The views into the landscaped embankment imbue the Library space with a strong connection to the environment. Vignettes through the bay windows reinforce connections with the rest of the school. The Library provides for group teaching, with cave-like spaces in the bay windows for individual study, reflection and quiet reading. The local community contributed significantly to the funding for the project. One of the most exciting contributions was a wall of colourful Lego pieces forming the front panel to the Library Issues Desk. Wellington Architecture Award 2013:  Jury citation: The new Learning Hub embodies Island Bay School’s goal of bringing student learning and community teaching closer together. This bright, engaging and accessible learning space for children, parents and the local community greets all comers and creates a flexible teaching area, while facilitating family access and communication. Warm and robust materials are brought together at different scales to create an inclusive and personal space that nevertheless feels connected to the wider school.