Eco-Cubby: footprint on the world

2012 Eco-Cubby schools and architects announced

We are very excited to announce the following Schools and Architects for the 2012 program: (School and architect pairings will be announced at the Eco-Cubby official Launch 11am, 17th February 2012 @ ArtPlay as part of the Sustainable Living Festival)

SCHOOLS

Camp Hill Primary School - Bendigo

Clayton South Primary School - Clayton South

Colbinabbin Primary School - Colbinabbin

The Farmhouse Bush Kinder - Mansfield

Goongerah primary school - Goongerah

Mallacoota P-12 College - Mallacoota

Tarwin Lower Primary School - Tarwin Lower

Wangaratta District Specialist School - Wangaratta

Warringa Park School - Hoppers Crossing

Wooranna Park Primary School - Dandenong North

ARCHITECTS

Karl Baumann - Karl Baumann Architecture

Ammon Beyerle & Michelle James - here studio

Tonique Bolt

Gerard Brandrick - Brandrick

Emilio Fuscaldo - Nest Architects

Fiona Gray - Soul Dwellings

Anthony Lake & Angus McKay - Slap Architects

Harriet Stone

Charlotte Lindsay (Building Designer) - Charlotte Lindsay Design / Earth Structures

Sunny Wilder - Timbertrip

Mansfield Primary School - 2009

Creswick North Primary School - 2010

Gowrie Victoria - 2011

Bundarra Primary School builds a cubby!

Bundarra Primary School in Portland has worked with graduate Architect Tom Morgan from Sharkmouse in 2010 and 2011 to design and build this fantastic space! The children worked hard this year to refine their initial design into something that could be built in the school grounds. Their initial design was fairly large and enclosed, however it was redeveloped and tweaked to become an open space situated in a garden.

Plantings have been completed and cushions go out each day for the children to use. This is a space for the grade 6 children and they used it for about 3 weeks before the end of term. Art Teacher Jenn Collett has done an incredible amount of work seeing this project to fruition and is extremely proud of their achievements. We are too - an awesome job to all involved!

There will be an official opening of the Bundarra Eco-Cubby in March - we'll keep you posted!

image courtesy of Tom morgan

Another cubby is built!

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...