Surfside Primary

The coastal towns along the Bellarine Peninsula are expanding, which puts new demands on its ageing infrastructure. Central to this population growth are the primary schools that provide places for children to develop vital skills - including a love for architecture.

Sibling Architecture has undertaken a major refurbishment of Surfside Primary School in Ocean Grove to instate a new identity to the existing buildings by reflecting the pedagogical aspirations of the school as a learning village. Off a common path, flexible and collaborative learning spaces, radiate with areas for formal presentations, one-to-one teaching, and spaces for dispersed creating, communicating and decision-making. A gradient of colours that reference the coastal landscape, act a way finding device through the building. Paired classrooms join or extend to include a new wet area for making. Even the bathrooms have a splash of colour.

The modest budget is worked hard to address multiple issues, including damaged external facades and dysfunctional, disorientating and worn spaces. The bright upgrade effortlessly supports clever spatial thinking to transform the school for the next generation.