SOUTH GIPPSLAND SPECIALIST SCHOOL KITCHEN GARDEN
The kitchen garden at the South Gippsland Specialist School is a unique project that evolved from the school’s desire to bring learning outside and to incorporate this aspect into their ‘practical life’ program. The program aims to develop independence in students with special needs by providing hands on experience with caring for and growing an edible garden, harvesting and cooking produce for themselves, and then serving and sharing their cooking with each other.
Client
Department of Education Victoria
Project Type
Outdoor & Landscape/ Food & Hospitality/ Special Needs
Traditional Owners
Bunurong people
Completed
2009
Sensory kitchen garden
The central courtyard has the kitchen garden to west, and the chicken coop and a young orchard is located to the east. Herbs are deliberately grown against north facing walls, so that they release their aromatic oils as the walls heat up in the sun. Sprawling herbs and annuals escape garden beds to soften the edges of walkways and ramps. Water is collected from roof tops and stored in two 22,000 Litre tanks, and is used to maintain the garden and orchard.
Connecting kitchen and garden
The holistic approach and inter-connectedness of the practical life program is reflected in the way the garden, alfresco dining area kitchen and service areas have been designed. Through windows, students in the kitchen are reminded of the source of the produce that they are working with. During warm weather, the indoor dining area can be opened up to join the alfresco dining courtyard, blurring the two spaces. Fabric sails provide shading for the courtyard and north facing large glazed counterweight doors
Extending learning opportunities
It has been a delight to see how well the garden has developed, and to see the students thrive in their new environment. When we have visited the school, we are often reminded that learning takes place in the most unexpected ways, and that learning can happen for the whole community. It is wonderful to see that the framework we have worked so hard to achieve in collaboration with the school, is well structured yet flexible enough to support all kinds of learning.
Acknowledgements
KDA Team
Mun Rosewarne
Landscape Architect
Fiorjo Landscape Architects
Photographer
Silvi Glattauer
2010
Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) International Exhibition of School Planning & Architecture: Project of Distinction
Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI)Awards Australasia: Education Initiative/ Design Solution for an Innovative program- Winner