Livingston Eyre designed the external spaces for this new Sure Start Centre in Southwark. The building provides integrated facilities, including a nursery, crche, and training accommodation for local children and their parents.
The internal garden contains a large sand beach with a curved form reflecting the shape of the building. An area paved in textural materials radially arranged concrete setts, pebbles, shells are divided by bands of edging, reminiscent of tide marks. Planting has a tropical theme using hardy palms. A curved bench, mirroring the internal bench, provides relaxed and sheltered seating.
Separate activity areas for three age groups between 18 months and 3 years lead out from internal classrooms, through transitional covered terraces. Each space is divided from the surrounding park with low retaining walls, giving a feeling of enclosure and safety.
A communal terrace between the activity areas for the two older sets of children spills out form the main hall and dining area. A set of seating steps incorporate safe but exciting water play which can be channelled by the children into a variety of routes and play elements.
Links with the park beyond are reinforced by the transparency of the perimeter fence facing the main park area. Wildlife planting spills out beyond the fence line into what is hoped to be the first phase of a new nature garden.
