Strand Kindergarten
2019-2020
The main mission for this project was to produce an outline re-design for a Kindergarten on the Norwegian island called Hitra. We had a short timeline to research and write a proposal explaining our new design's Ecological, Economic, Social, and World-view dimensions. Showcasing our design integrations and outcomes, then expressing how and what our next steps would be.
Key Design Priorities:
Wellbeing of children and staff
Economic feasibility
Integration of sustainable/ regenerative practices
Conversation & restoration
Strengthening the bioreigon
The Kindergarten was positioned on the coast with lots of other small islands surrounding it, with a parents school next to it. The project was initiated by a teacher there originally focused on wanting a re-design of the garden, although we then proposed a broader re-design of the Kindergarten. Due to problems and concerns from teachers and parents mixed with our excitement and opportunist mindsets towards seeing the possibilities of how this space could transform to showcase a sustainable/regenerative whole systems approach which could bring abundance and opportunity to the children and community around the education center.
Mission
Our mission for the design was to support the wellbeing of each child, family, staff-member and harnessing sense of place. Helping to grow the unique potential of the local communities and the bioregion - strengthening their resilience in times of collapsing ecosystems, pandemics and paralyzing uncertainty. And Equipping the staff and community as role models for the children.
In a time of so much uncertainty, there’s much need for resilience. Joining the gaps between ourselves, each other and the rest of nature to help build better strength with diversity. We strive to create natural flows with our environments that nurture children in their personal and collective growth, including their learning journeys. - Snippet from Proposal.
We had a common interest in helping restructure young education systems. This inspired us to add another component to this proposal. We created the start of a Blueprint for Worldwide Young Education Centres that would describe methods, models and design integrations that could be adapted to fit different countries schooling systems.
*Currently, the Blueprint concept is being researched more and we’re deciding what our next steps will be.