1. A Designer’s perspective on Pedagogy
Jill Rice, Landscape Architect
500 Lyons Rd, RD 1 Pokeno, NZ 2471
*64 21 1825002
www.getoutside.co.nz
jill@getoutside.co.nz
World Forum on Design and Nature
March 2015
2. Case Study 1
Swanson School
“The school with no rules”, and not much outdoor design!
If this is all about children’s learning, what can a designer possibly
contribute to the outdoor environment of a school?
Bruce McLachlan
Principal
4. Swanson School now...
Students have been given freedom to “repurpose” the playground equipment in
whatever way they choose
5. Other loose materials are available to them to create their own play structures and games
6. During play times, students are allowed to ride bikes, scooters, play anywhere on anything....
7. Duty teachers are available, not as agents of control but as active participants with the
children in their creative play-making activities
8. Students are free to engage in physical challenge, dramatic and cooperative play
using the natural environment and whatever loose materials they can gather
9. Children are thoroughly engaged and physically active during their times of recess, and staff
report improvements in behaviour, less accidents and greater enjoyment of learning as a result
10. Messy / Loose parts Tidy / Organised
Natural / Informal Manufactured / Constructed
Unsupervised Supervised
Free and easy access Limited / managed access
No or few rules, developed by
children
Rules imposed by adults
Risk focussed and learning
assessed
Safety focussed and risk
assessed
Child initiated Adult engineered
Raw/ unfinished Published / polished
Process valued / open to
change
Finished product valued
/complete
Renewable / recyclable Low maintenance / permanent
Looks are not important Aesthetic considerations are
also important
Environmental variables – which is best for learning?
The experience of Swanson School poses this challenge to us as designers of children’s
environments - what really matters in order to extend children in their learning and
enjoyment of a space?
11. Case Study 2
Experience Trail and Learning Hub
Auckland Council Waste Minimisation Learning Centre
Designed by Jill Rice, Get Outside Ltd
Location at
Waitakere
Transfer
Station in
Auckland
Concept
Plan of
Overall
Area
Location of Experience Trail
and Learning Centre
12. The Transfer Station Site – above, the children on guided tours of the transfer station;
below, the original Learning Centre for children before the Experience Trail was developed.
13. • to be an interactive area in the learning centre garden for
visitors to explore
• to demonstrate sustainable waste practices and include
zones with waste minimisation themes such as reduce,
reuse, recycle, rot/compost, grow and zero waste.
• to contain messages linking the learning space to the
water and biodiversity surrounding it.
• to include interpretative signage, pathways, plants and
outdoor furniture.
• to be made of materials that have been sustainably
sourced and that demonstrate reuse and up-cycling in an
engaging way.
The Brief for the new Learning Centre Environment
... getting the Waste Minimisation message across
14. Initial concept design and flow plan
1
2
3
4
56
7
1 Outdoor classroom
2 Play/ picnic area
3 Rot - decomposers
4 Recycle – sorting
station
5 Organic – worm farms,
compost bins
6 Reuse hard materials
7 Water conservation
Area to be broken up into different zones for learning
about different aspects of waste minimisation,
with all structures and links between spaces made using
materials from the Transfer Station
15. Experience Trail Developed Design
Developed
Flow
Diagram
showing
entry and
water flow
Developed Landscape Concept Plan
16. • Functionality
• Flow
• Context
• Materiality
• Aesthetic appeal
• Fun!
Key Design Considerations
Materials gathered from the Transfer
Station for use in the Trail
Materials reused to make the surfaces
and structures and to add a bit of fun!
17. Entry Appeal and Cultural Connection
Children from
local schools
helped with the
artwork for the
entry
Tree sculptures were made using material from the
Transfer Station
18. Gabion basket benches and
timber pellet seats for social
interaction
Sketches were
drawn, images
collected and ideas
discussed regarding
the construction
and design of
elements for the
Trail
19. Bug Hotel , worm farms
and composting for
environmental awareness
20. Water feature fun
The water tower is made using
many different “found” items and
materials and is powered by pedal
power using an old exercycle to
drive a second-hand pump
21. Sign is adapted from an old piece of play equipment, a Tic Tac Toe, and has images of
objects used in the Trail for the children to find
Sign, Gardens, Paving and Other Surprise Elements!
Swanson School
children enjoying
the learning
environment of
the Trail
23. Completed Experience Trail
Birds-eye view shows the context of the Experience Trail above an estuarine river,
which offers the opportunity for learning about the wider environment and our duty to care for it
24. So how can a design of outdoor environments assist in the delivery of
curriculum?
• The designer must listen carefully to understand the learning goals
and methods of the teachers and students, and act as a facilitator
of the learning process
• Good design provides a functional and beautiful framework within
which learning can occur
• It ensures there is good flow, considers the context, makes the
space comfortable, sources appropriate materials and uses them in
innovative ways
• The learning environment should not be Overdesigned, but should
offer the possibility for ongoing input by the learners and users of
the space
• Like the original playground designed for Swanson School, it may
become the catalyst for something even more amazing in the
future, designed and made by the students themselves!
