Just before the end of Term 4 2011, I visited Olive Phillips Kindergarten to see their spectacular Eco-Cubby! They have worked hard this year to get the cubby built. They received a grant from their local council as well as from the Bendigo bank and were able to secure in kind suport from families and communities to bring the model to life. Angela Barr, Kindergarten Director has dedicated significant time to the project and recognises the important role it has played throught the centre for the past two years. The children have seen their cubby come to life and have been involved in its development and production every step of the way.
The children worked throughout 2010 with architect Barnaby Chiverton. They engaged in deep investigation of birds nests and eventually came up with their final design based on their shapes. The centre has many advanced trees in the garden and this promped talk of acually suspending a structure from the tree branches. An arborist was called in to assess the trees but unfortunately the branches were deemed unsuitable to hold the weight of a structure. This prompted design alterations so it became a freestanding structure on the ground under the trees.
The cubby has been developed as a special quiet space. The children have discussed and agreed that their cubby is to be used as a place to talk with their friends or to have quiet time and not something for loud play.
Large pots will be installed around the outside of the cubby and vines will be planted to grow along the wires. In time the space will become a more private place to be. It is a beautiful place to sit in and enjoy the surrounding trees. A nest, a pod, a seed...
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