BRIEF To build a new child care centre in an established eastern suburb to cater for 35 children. 10 under 2 yrs, 10 between 2 and 3, and 15 3 yrs and over. The centre was to have a residential feel so that children felt as if they were staying at someone's home. The centre was to comply with Childrens Services Office (CSO) requirements, and Council parking regulations. The site was a standard house block, 18.3m x 50.3m (60' xl 63')

APPROACH
After consultation with people who worked in existing centres, visiting two or three to find out what did and didn't work, and long discussions with the clients to assess which way they wanted to approach things, I resolved to place all of the service rooms on the "dead" South side, and run the building in an "L" shape.
I felt it was important that from one or two spots, any area, inside or out could be viewed. This would enable the centre to be run by three people, even though five were required by regulation
Although the plan gave quite a broad area at the back to roof, I created the image of a Victorian villa by splitting the pitch of the roofs, 35 deg. to the front, 20 deg to the rear.
Since the site was tight, (there was 1/2 a square metre spare) every square inch of space needed to be used effectively.

RESULT
After much to-ing and fro-ing over the design with the CSO, and council, initial planning refusal, and a successful appeal to the Planning Appeals Tribunal, the working drawings were completed and the building built for $ 170,000 (AUD).
The clients are ecstatic with the design , and the CSO is using it as an example of exceptional design.