A childcare centre in Perth’s southern suburbs, Little Saints, has been carefully designed to ‘grow’ as children grow – with the built form becoming more complex, stimulating and challenging for children as they become more capable.
This initiative by All Saints’ College blends architecture with pedagogy to create an inspiring environment for early childhood education. It stands as a testament to how thoughtful design can significantly enhance educational outcomes and community connection.
Architecture & Design sits down with Jake Gethin, architect at Mathew Crawford Architects, to talk about the genesis of the project.
Architecture & Design: Can you describe the initial vision for this project and how it evolved over time?
Jake Gethin: The initial vision for the Little Saints project was to expand the educational offering at All Saints’ College from cradle to Year 12, creating a comprehensive, one-stop educational environment.
We worked closely with the school’s leadership to align the design with their pedagogical model. The project evolved significantly as we addressed the challenge of integrating the new childcare facility with the existing campus, creating a cohesive environment where older and younger siblings and friends could interact seamlessly – a campus within a campus.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design and construction phases, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges we faced were finding a suitable site and managing the complexities of building within an active school environment. The water table was quite shallow, and the sloping nature of the site added further complications. Overcoming these challenges required close coordination between all teams involved, ensuring that every aspect was planned and executed to create a successful and safe build.
The project was documented and constructed during a time when the world was navigating the aftermath of the pandemic. This period was marked by significant inflation, which led to escalating building cots. Managing these rising costs while maintaining alignment with the client’s brief posed a substantial challenge. Despite these hurdles, we were committed to balancing financial constraints with the project’s goals, ensuring delivery of a high-quality outcome.
How did you ensure that the project met the client’s needs and expectations?
We had a constant channel of dialogue between the client and ourselves, refining the initial brief and sharing our expertise from similar educational projects to reach the desired outcome.
The design reflects the developmental progression of children, starting with a rectilinear form near the reception for the youngest, which gradually breaks down as children age, symbolising the increasing complexity of life.
Key features include ability-dependent obstacles and sightlines, like windows for younger children to observe older ones, fostering aspiration. The older children’s spaces, with curved fence areas overlooking the oval, represent their next stage of growth. This thoughtful architectural approach ensured the project not only met but enhanced the client’s vision.
Architecture in the case of Little Saints became the facilitator of spatial organisation of child development while being careful of pedagogical directives has seen a centre that allows for its cohort to learn through investigation and self discovery.
Were there any unique or innovative techniques or materials used in this project?
The building itself a tough concrete shell referencing a stone weathered within the side of a hill. Made of tilt up white concrete panels echoing a stereotomic mass and sense of gravity helped the building appear as though it had been there for years, creating an experience of ‘time’.
The white concrete chosen to reference the purity of its inhabitants, and their state of vulnerability protected in a concrete mass at their early stage of education. To retain part of the site the cut and fill action a concrete block wall with datum lines referencing sediments in the soil.
The external form juxtaposes to a soft internal world of plywood that wraps around each internal space as a 600 tall ribbon. The client team interpreted this and adopted the image of a thunder rock, referencing a tough external shell with a soft refined internal world which resonated perfectly for the project.
How does this project fit into your broader portfolio and design philosophy?
The Little Saints project fits seamlessly into our broader portfolio and design philosophy, where we strive to create buildings that possess a raw and natural aesthetic, with materials that remain true to themselves. We are particularly pleased with the outcome of Little Saints, as it not only met but exceeded the original vision.
Our approach to design is hands-on and bespoke, something our clients deeply value. We see ourselves as distinct in our ability to craft spaces that are both authentic and thoughtfully executed, and Little Saints is a prime example of this philosophy in action.
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture, and how has your perspective changed since you began?
As a teenager, I was captivated by maximising space and solving problems through furniture design, which sparked my interest in architecture. Attending university open days solidified my desire to apply problem-solving on a larger scale, leading me to pursue architecture at University. Although this workload was intense, my first assignment confirmed that this was the path I wanted to take – solving challenges to improve people’s lives through built solutions.
Can you discuss a project or moment in your career that significantly shaped your approach to architecture and design?
One moment in my career that significantly shaped my approach to architecture and design was working on the Emily Taylor project. This was a particularly challenging endeavour because it was a heritage project – my first that also involved branding and interior design. As the head contractor and lead architect, we were responsible for overseeing the entire scope of the project, which required close collaboration with branding creatives, interior designers and furniture experts.
The experience gained through the Emily Taylor project was instrumental to the success of the Little Saints project, where I gained a deep understanding of how to create cohesive and welcoming environments through thoughtful material selection and branding integration.. Knowing that children can often be scared to leave home and jump into the world, I applied these insights to design a space that feels comfortable and familiar, ensuring that the transition from home to this new environment would be as reassuring as possible.
How do you stay current with architectural trends and technologies?
To stay current, I make a point to continually observe and learn from other architects and how they face design challenges, often exploring their work on various platforms. Creating mood boards and experience boards helps me visualise new concepts and integrate emerging ideas into my work.
Collaborating with branding experts has given me insight into how they develop and evolve concepts, which I apply to my architectural practice to ensure my designs are both innovative and relevant.
What role do you think sustainability plays in modern architecture, and how do you incorporate it into your work?
Sustainability plays a crucial role in modern architecture, and it’s something I incorporate into my work with intention. Given that our firm often engages in heritage projects, we are committed to adapting and reusing existing structures, ensuring that we utilise materials that have already expended carbon, thereby reducing waste.
We work closely with sustainability consultants and are meticulous in our selection of materials, carefully reviewing data to understand the origin and environmental impact of each choice.
As sustainability becomes increasingly important, we actively encourage our clients to consider sustainable practices and solutions in their projects, pushing the envelope to create more responsible designs.
What advice would you give to young architects just starting their careers?
My advice is to begin working on your own projects in your spare time, even if they are small or personal. Every project contributes to your growth as an architect. It’s through hands-on experience that you build confidence and start to define your unique style and approach to architecture.
