Woodleigh School - Homestead Project

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project

Law Architects

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg

ARCHITECTS
Law Architects

STRUCTURAL & CIVIL ENGINEERS
Calibre 

SERVICES ENGINEER
Cundall

PROJECT MANAGER
Duncan Scott

CLIENT
Woodleigh School

BUILDER
Lloyd Group Sam Cox Landscapes

PHOTOS
Drew Echberg (10)

BUDGET
$5M - 10M

AREA
10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Langwarrin South, Australia

CATEGORY
Educational › High School

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg

The process of ‘Re-imagining’ the Woodleigh School learning environments, required a deep understanding of “The Woodleigh Way”; the values and philosophy underpinning the schools origins.

Opened in the 70’s, on a 20 hectare recently classified ‘Land for Wildlife’ bush property on the Mornington Peninsula, it is an Independent progressive school with an emphasis on independent thought.

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Drew Echberg

Homesteads form the core of student life and underpin their unique model of Teaching and Learning- each building, a learning home for 70 plus students across years 7-10.

The time for new Homesteads had arrived. A lengthy process of stakeholder engagement, and brief analysis was undertaken to ensure the spaces embody and foster Woodleigh values in their built form.

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg

Fundamental to the programmatic working of the homesteads is the school’s motto “There is no growth without struggle”.

The spaces are required to perform in many guises, challenging old and new teaching and learning approaches, whilst simultaneously instilling a collegial sense of belonging and ownership.

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Drew Echberg

The internal planning teamed with sliding walls and partitioning curtains generate a variety of contemporary learning settings.

These settings facilitate and further the educational demands held by the school’s curriculum: 

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Drew Echberg
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project

connected, collaborative, varied, personalised and environmentally-focussed learning.

The concurrent workshopping and analysis carried out by The University of Melbourne’s LEARN Group research body, ensured the school’s pedagogical intent was manifested in the new Homestead’s planning and design.

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project

The tactile nature of the materials - rammed earth, spotted gum timber, exposed concrete floors and rock – allow the bold gestures of the soaring truss roof, solid mass walls and folded iron spouts, to sit harmoniously within the landscape.

Passively designed for controlled solar gain and natural ventilation, the students are encouraged to learn to ‘sail’ the buildings, making choices about where and when they inhabit spaces, learning inside or out.

Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
© Drew Echberg


Woodleigh School - Homestead Project


Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project
Woodleigh School - Homestead Project