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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: External vertical macrocarpa timber cladding alternates with double glazed windows and doors which capture northern daylight and borrowed views extending over the adjacent park. Photo by Ray Joyce.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: The narrow site slopes eastwards to magnificent views of the Derwent River while its northern boundary abuts and overlooks adjacent community parkland, borrowing space and landscape. Photo by Ray Joyce.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: A homely interior with ample daylight, natural timber, and lively colour, creates a high quality, welcoming, fresh and healthy atmosphere opening to eastern river views and northern sun. Photo by Ray Joyce.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: The hoop pine natural timber paneled interior has visually connected interlinking volumes with a lively play of scale and a varied spatial experience. Photo by Ray Joyce.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: Stairs, slides and tunnels link varied play space and alcoves to the mezzanine play spine ensuring gross motor learning, spatial adventure and user engagement. Photo by Yvette Breytenbach.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: Visual connection between community space and the mezzanine play spine supports parent participation in learning programs fostering social inclusion and community cohesion. Photo by Yvette Breytenbach.
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Chigwell Child and Family Centre, Tasmania: Environmentally sustainable design with passive solar planning, double glazing, solar walls, insulation and hydronic in-floor heating, deliver an energy and cost efficient outcome. Photo by Ray Joyce.
Chigwell Child and Family Centre delivers learning programs and activities for 0–6 year olds and their parents. Its non-institutional atmosphere and user-friendly scale is welcoming, comfortable, engaging and accessible. It addresses social isolation and builds community by encouraging a sense of inclusion through active participation or passive observation of the programs on offer.
A mezzanine-level play spine for the children runs the entire length of the building incorporating cubbies, play nooks, sleeping nests, and tunnels interspersed with climbing and sliding fun between levels.
The centre’s homely interior with ample daylight, natural timber, and lively colour, creates a high quality, fresh and healthy atmosphere. Its strong identity and sense of place is enhanced by views to the spectacular borrowed landscape of the River Derwent beyond. Energy efficient, low maintenance, sustainable design has reduced running costs and increased capacity for program delivery.
This project by Morrison & Breytenbach Architects with Scott & Ryland Architects.