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High-rise and made of concrete, the Skyplay North Perth School of Early Learning is a childcare centre like few others.

An unconventional choice, the architects decided to design a sophisticated building for children. Indeed, the 114-child centre has traded in the traditional bright-coloured walls for natural and hard-wearing materials such as off-form concrete and plywood panels.

The concept of Skyplay is that children can have the best of both worlds – the opportunity to play in the ‘sky’ as well as on ground level.

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Indoor spaces are directly adjacent to outdoor play areas and permanently undercover outdoor areas allow children to play comfortably year-round.

A double-height ‘studio’ sits at the heart of the building, acting as a space for performances and gatherings. Large glass windows were also used in the build to encourage children to interact with and learn from other age groups on different levels.

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Located on a compact suburban site, this project required a different design approach to other childcare centres. Externally, the building is a deceptively simple three-storey form that sits alongside an existing 1907 heritage-listed police station. The architects carefully created a design both contemporary and respectful of the historic station.

KEY PRODUCTS/SUPPLIERS

  • BGC - Class 2 Raw Structural Concrete
  • Galvanised steel
  • Planet Acoustics and Architecture - Birch Plywood BB Grade w polyurethane 2 pac finish
  • Artificial TurfDirect – Synthetic grass ‘Relax 40’
  • Armstrong Flooring – Natural Creations XL Vinyl Planks ‘Riverland Ash'