I had a wonderful visit to Piangil Primary School and spent the afternoon with the children as they busily made scale models of their group designs. Piangil Primary is a school of about 18 students and it was lovely to watch the older children guiding the younger ones with their investigations. Architect James Whitten spent 3 days at the school (I visited on day 3) and it was clear the school (and the town) had adopted him as one of their own! The children loved him and the design processes he was teaching them.
The children have done a lot of work in their visual diaries and produced some wonderful site drawings as well as drawings of their school buildings from various viewpoints. They had eagerly brainstormed the ‘ideal cubby’ in small groups and had done a good job of stripping away many unnecessary design features (such as ball pits, flat screen TV’s and games rooms!!!) – we are talking ECO here kids!
After the wild and exciting ideas had been tamed, each group developed a final design based on the principles James had taught them. Managing to understand the concept of scale had been quite tough, and an idea used previously at Bundalaguah Primary School by architects Kirsty Fletcher and John Pye was implemented. The children made 1:20 scale models of themselves out of plasticine and this helped them understand the measuring and mathematical division used to reduce objects in size. Each group also investigate scale and created chalk drawings of their designs on the cement paths outside. These gave a good indication of the size of some of the designs.
It was great to see everyone so completely immersed in their work and to hear about the children's enjoyment of the project. I do believe that Piangil may well produce some exceptional building designers in the future!
hmmm no windows in here!
measuring, measuring - James lends a hand
planting the vegie garden (complete with lettuce, corn and tomatoes)
experimenting with clay
chalk drawings of models
a finished model (complete with vegie garden!)
john with his sheep and pig
A very interesting sight between Swan Hill and Piangil - a trial plantation of willow trees to use for making cricket bats!
and of course the mighty Murray river and the giant Murray River Cod (as seen in Swan Hill)
