LETTiCE DESiGN

The Linking Learning project focuses on the learning ethos in early years education and how it should be prolonged to create a more self-directed learning experience for children. Often in nurseries and Children’s Centres, children have the freedom to choose their spatial environment and subject contents, essentially enabling them to be the protagonist of their own learning. However, quite often as children progress through education these freedoms can be restricted, resulting in pupils being contained inside cellular classrooms learning from a rigid curriculum. 

The outcome is a new build project for Gibshill Children’s Centre in Greenock. Through communication with the Head and Deputy Head of the Centre, the new building is designed to facilitate their vision of creating free-flow access for the children. Designed for 100 children between the ages of 2-9 the Centres new 3265 square meter plan allows the children to navigate seamlessly from space to space in an environment that contains no classrooms. In their place are Home Zones, these are spaces for each age group to start their day and a safe place to return to at any point. Out-with that is a variety of breakout spaces the children can utilise to play and learn.

“You’ve got to have an environment that encourages 
curiosity and creativity.” 
Janine Burns, Head of Centre at Gibshill.

“Ideally we would love an environment that lends itself to the children as independent learners moving smoothly 
and having flexibility in their learning and play.” 
Craig Scott, Deputy Head of Centre at Gibshill. 

“ What we have always tried to design is where you have different volumes. Some kids like that protective cover of a low space like crawling under a table but equally there’s the other kid who like being on top of the table.” 
Gavin Murray, Senior architect at Inverclyde Council.

Outdoor play is a huge part of the ethos and curriculum at the Children’s Centre. To maximise the opportunity for outdoor play and learning the buildings design offers direct unassisted access outside from all sections of the building. Helping to give children and teachers flexibility in the an environment that starts to blur the lines between internal and external space. Gibshill is a very community orientated part of Greenock with the staff at the children’s centre always keen to engage with the local com-munity and showcase the activities taking place at the Centre. Attached to the North East of the Children’s Centre is a community cafe that only offers visual access not physical access into the Children’s Centre. The buildings overall design enables children to have safe free flow access inside and out while simultaneously helping link the relationship between education and the community.