Horsham Special School had existed as separate Junior and Senior schools for many years, operating from borrowed old classroom buildings. This project consolidated the two campuses onto a single site, allowing the school to develop its own identity. The central sensory courtyard provides a beautiful and safe environment for social interaction. Students of all ages, as well as teachers, parents, and visitors from the wider community, gather here to socialise, engage, and learn.

Client

Department of Education Victoria

Project Type

Outdoor & Landscape/ Special Needs

Traditional Owners

Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk people

Completed

2014

Safety and independence

The challenge for this project was to provide spaces that are safe and easy to supervise, whilst avoiding the traditional method of controlling access to outdoor areas via layers of fences and gates. The solution was to wrap classrooms around a huge central circular sensory courtyard, an outdoor space where students can safely walk across or spend time in, without having to seek permission through locked doors/gates. This enhances students’ feeling of independence. There are no hidden corners in the courtyard, the teaching spaces surrounding the courtyard provide constant but discreet supervision.

Supporting student development

The central courtyard provides a beautiful and safe environment for social interaction. The space is organised so that different activities can occur in different parts of the courtyard. Students of all ages, as well as teachers, parents, and visitors from the wider community, gather here to socialise, engage, and learn. The aim was to engage children in a playful way that builds on their strengths and provides staff with a setting that aids communication, learning and the development of social skills.

Sensory elements

The courtyard space was designed to provide a highly sensory space to meet the needs of the children who have a variety of disabilities, and in particular for children on the autism spectrum. We wanted to create landscape experiences that stimulate, educate & evoke the senses. The result is a range of sensory experiences with tactile and sculptural elements, a variety of textures, surfaces and materials, water, a wide range of sensory planting and high levels of detail.