The five key issues in education design that impact learning and wellbeing

Our environment has a profound effect on us. It can impact everything from our level of concentration and productivity to our health and emotional wellbeing. Yet many schools aren't designed in a way that maximises learning outcomes, fosters community, encourages play, and prioritises student and teacher wellbeing.

Could your school be one of them? To help you, here are the five key issues in education design that impact learning and wellbeing that we identified through analysing over 140 schools in Australia.

1. Classroom layouts prevent learning opportunities

Gone are the days when every classroom layout has rows of desks facing the teacher and whiteboard. With each child learning differently, it’s important that the modern classroom features flexible learning areas for students to be able to learn in multiple ways – with the teacher, by themselves, and in varying group sizes through their peers.

For this to happen effectively, classrooms spaces need to be designed to have different areas that cater for collaborative work and discussion, allow for quiet individual work and retreat, and encourage focus time with the teacher at the front of the room. Open planning, breakout areas and flexible furniture are key to creating this flexibility within the classroom.

2. Children don’t have the flexibility to learn outside

While children thrive in routine, their performance can be impacted by working in the same environment all the time. By creating outdoor classroom environments, teachers and students can venture outside when the weather allows for different learning opportunities.

Combining adaptable indoor learning spaces with flexible outdoor spaces that are large enough for full class groups, students are given many varied opportunities for interaction, performance, collaboration, and connection to nature.

This not only boosts student engagement, but it also minimises costs of lighting and air-conditioning while providing greater connection to the landscape and better working conditions.

3. There are inadequate views to landscape from classrooms

Increasing the proportion of natural landscape within our immediate environments is key to improving both our physical and emotional health. In a study into ‘school landscape environments,’ it was suggested “that the function of schools’ landscape has significantly related to efforts of assisting the learning processes and nourishing environmental appreciation among students” (Ali, Rostam & Awang, 2015).

But unfortunately, some classrooms (even on the ground floor) don’t have adequate views to landscape. Increasing views to landscape, which can encompass a variety of natural and constructed spaces including open fields, gardens, shelters and open pavilions, reflective areas, and water bodies to name a few, can be a quick and easy way to improve student learning and wellbeing.

4. The inability for children to run and use their energy when needed

It’s no secret that physical activity is good for our health and improves our ability to think clearly. Yet the design of many schools and classrooms don’t allow children the opportunity to have regular times to move their body to increase their learning potential.

Throughout our consultation with teachers, we heard time and time again that the traditional classroom layout of desks facing a teacher doesn't allow kids an outlet for their abundant energy. This can lead to children being fidgety, distracting others or misbehaving.

The modern classroom model needs to allow space within the classroom inside and outside for children to use energy when they need to while still being a part of the class.

5. Carbon Dioxide build up from a lack of fresh air

While many schools install air-conditioning for the comfort of students and teachers, what many people are unaware of is that the quality of air can be dramatically affected. In environments with split system air-conditioning and no fresh air intake, air is simply moved around the room but not replaced, leading to a build-up of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) throughout the day, which affects the cognitive ability and learning capability of students in the classroom.

In 2016, a study done by researchers at Harvard and Syracuse University found that human cognitive function declined by about 15% when indoor CO₂ reached 945 parts per million and crashed by 50% when indoor CO₂ reached 1,400 parts per million. Environments with split system air-conditioning can quickly reach these levels, especially after lunch when 30 sweaty kids re-enter the classroom after running around for an hour.

It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? We put students into classrooms and exam rooms that are air-conditioned for their comfort only to create the worst possible air quality for them to perform and compete against other schools in.

The good news is that through sustainable initiatives both the comfort and air quality of classrooms can be improved. While there are times when air-conditioning must be used, there are times when air-conditioning could be minimised by using a more effective passive ventilation design (like louvres) that will allow greater fresh air and breezes through the classroom. Ducted systems with fresh intake are very important in the classroom as are CO₂ monitors for any rooms that already have split system units installed.

Do measures like this make an impact, you might ask? A study done by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that examined the costs and benefits of green schools for Washington State estimated a 15% reduction in absenteeism and a 5% increase in test scores.

If you would like to book a School Audit to see how your school performs in these areas and more, call us today on (07) 3870 9700 (Brisbane) or (03) 8547 5000 (Melbourne).

Managing the work, school, life balance: top tips from our Interiors team

Does the work, home, and school balance have you scrambling at the moment? Like you've got a little too many balls in the air and might be at risk of a concussion? You're not alone. Parents everywhere are feeling the stress at the moment.

To help you (and us!) get through this rather interesting period and create a productive earn/learn environment, we spoke to some of the parents in our Interiors team, Severina Galvin, Gohta Shiraishi, Yoshino Seki and Sweta Solanki to get their top tips.

Have an understanding between your project team and family members

Gohta: "Your team needs to understand that there will be times that you'll need to help out with a maths problem, get an iPad working or change a nappy. At the same time, your family also needs to respect the fact that although there is flexibility, you have a responsibility to get your work done, and there are virtual meetings to attend and deadlines to meet.

 A simple way of looking at things, I find, is that work is not 9-5. It'll be more in increments like 7.00-9.30am, 10:00-11:30am, so on and so forth and your team needs to understand this. It helps if you give your team some heads up though!

I like to send a quick skype message to the team that says "bubs" and I've explained to them beforehand that that means there's a matter at home that needs my attention and that I'll be "offline" for a little while. But I make up for this by being responsive and available to the team when online to maintain good communication.

Conversely, when that clock hits 5.00pm, your family needs to be accommodating to the fact that you may need to work "back" to get that deadline done. Sometimes this will entail working at odd times or answering emails at 11.00pm long after the kids are tucked in."

Focus on QUALITY rather than quantity

Gohta: "This applies to both the "work" and "home" settings. When you're spending time with the family, be present with them. Switch off your notifications and put that phone, iPad and computer away for that precious couple of hours you have with them. 

Also, with your work, try and have a proper home office set-up so you can concentrate productively away from distractions (for those odd periods in-between home duties), so you can produce quality work. This includes a proper task chair, workstation and IT set-up, ideally in a dedicated room."

Create a productive workspace shared workspace with your child/children

Severina: “To create a comfortable and productive workspace you’ll want an area where you can get fresh air, views to nature, good lighting (natural light as the first preference and then task lighting) and ambient noise control either through headphones, physical distancing or separation, if possible.

Ergonomic comfort is also important but may be challenging at home. Be mindful of the comfort levels of your available furniture and settings and try to adjust as much as possible.

Consider setting up a variety of school and work areas to break the monotony of being in the same space and create more reasons for moving breaks to help with transition and controlling acoustic privacy needs for different tasks. I recommend using your outdoor space for studying and work as much as you can.”

Yoshino: “I recommend setting a daily routine and start schooling an hour before work. That way my child is settled with all the set tasks; it makes it easier to start the day. Let your child know about the day's schedule in the morning, so they know what is happening and also mention those key spots when you can't be interrupted. 

Be flexible with working spots throughout the day. That might involve sitting next to your child or letting them do a task next to you at your desk. This also helps you utilise those small gaps of time between meetings to talk to your child about how they are going.

Another hand tip is to make sure the toys are away before starting home school to avoid distraction and make DVDs and games treats after all of their schoolwork is done. Where possible, try not to have DVDs and games during the day as it will break the boundary, leaving them until later can also motivate them to get their schoolwork done."

Find ways to balance work and teaching

Yoshino: "Try not to worry too much about completing the set daily task organised by the educator. It's more important that your child feels comfortable learning. Balance the day by alternating focused work with activities to keep your child engaged and be creative in organising tasks. Not all tasks given by the school will suit every child, so where possible, try to turn it into a fun activity.

If the task seems too hard for the child, keep trying but don't push, they will eventually get it (100% guaranteed!) so look at the situation in the long run."

Sweta: "Where possible, share the load. My husband also helps in home schooling. So, we plan out our day depending on our meetings scheduled and take turns in teaching a subject each.

Also, remember to look for the rewards. I now have a greater insight into the tasks and activities my child does at school. Previously, I only got to see her task books when they returned home at the end of the year; now, I feel more connected to her education. This experience has also increased my appreciation for all the hard work and dedication the teachers and schools put towards the students. It's not an easy task."

Be kind to yourself

Gohta: "Working from home with children can be a real juggling act at the best of times, so be realistic with what you can achieve with work and at home. Sometimes the greatest pressure placed on working parents is from ourselves. If you know you can't get something done, be open and transparent with your team (work and home) and say so. While it can be hard to admit we can't do everything, it is far better for everyone to be honest from the start. 

Remember that the value you bring to work is not always in the work you produce; it's in the expertise and knowledge that you bring to the table. As working parents, we're typically a bit further along in our professional careers and often the best way to be more productive is to impart this knowledge to the younger generation so they can be better equipped to get the work done! Delegating is a powerful tool when done right."

Look after yourself

Gohta: "At 11months old, my daughter will still not sleep through the night, so perpetual sleep deprivation is the new reality. I find fresh air and some upbeat music are far better than reaching for that cup of coffee. Sometimes a quick walk or even five minutes of shut-eye can give you just enough of a refresher to keep going for a little while."

Yoshino: "Try to set a daily exercise activity like taking a walk in the morning or afternoon to set the routine and reduce stress. Eat healthily and maintain set mealtimes, save your snacks for morning and afternoon tea."

There you have it! Some great tips that will go a long way in maintaining a happy environment at home while being under pressure at work. 

Guymer Bailey Announced Principal Consultant on Southern Queensland Correctional Centre

The Minister for Corrective Services, Mark Ryan, has announced Guymer Bailey Architects as the successful Principal Consultant for the new Southern Queensland Correctional Centre project near Gatton.

“I’m pleased to have Guymer Bailey Architects on board, as they have extensive experience in designing major infrastructure projects. When completed, this state-of-the-art facility will deliver approximately 1,000 beds for male prisoners. It will mean safer, less crowded, more effective prisons statewide, which will help reduce recidivism and keep communities safer.” he said.

Guymer Bailey Architects have been the lead design consultant on many of Australia’s most innovative correctional projects including the Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ravenhall Correctional Centre and Chisholm Road Prison Project.

Guymer Bailey Directors, Phil Jackson and Kavan Applegate, expressed that the team are thrilled to be working with the Queensland Government on the new Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.

“With the prisoner population growing across Australia, it’s vital that the current and future design of prisons have a greater focus on rehabilitation to reduce recidivism rates, we’re excited to be bringing this rehabilitative approach to the design of the new Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.” Phil Jackson said.

“The physical environment of a prison influences prisoners, staff, and visitors in a myriad of ways. This leaves us as architects of correctional facilities with a great opportunity, but also a substantial responsibility.” Kavan Applegate said.

According to Minister Ryan, the $618.8 million, 1000-bed facility is a landmark infrastructure project for the Palaszczuk Government and a historic investment in security safety.

The project, which is planned for completion in 2022-23, will be led by Guymer Bailey Associate Craig Blewitt, who specialises in creating therapeutic environments that promote rehabilitation.

“The design will utilise evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism through enhanced mental health, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services,” he said.

The new Southern Queensland Correctional Centre is the first new correctional centre built in Queensland since 2012. 

The importance of considering staff wellbeing in correctional design

If you are like most people, when you think of prisons, you think of the prisoners and the importance of keeping them inside to prevent further hurt or disruption to society.

While the quality of the built environment plays a big role in achieving this, it is the correctional staff, the people who come into prison every day to carry out their job successfully, that make the biggest difference in running an efficient and effective correctional facility.

It will come as no surprise that correctional work can take a big toll on staff, with many experiencing daily physical and mental stress. The effects of these pressures can also have a significant impact on staff morale, performance and turnover. Staff in a secure environment don’t have the luxury of stepping outside the workplace for their lunch break or picking up their mobile phone to speak to someone for a few minutes to clear their head either, as many of us do.

For this reason, the environment and facilities provided for staff are even more important than in a regular workplace. So how, as designers, can we ensure prison designs consider not only the security and rehabilitation of prisoners but also the wellbeing and performance of staff?

To tackle this question, I spoke with a medical practitioner who recently completed some seasonal work in a prison, to see how the design and build environment had impacted her day-to-day at work.

Connection to nature

According to the medical practitioner, it can be hard to forget you are in a correctional environment.

““While some meeting rooms can feel like you are in a regular office building, it can be hard to escape the environment that surrounds you. The staff tearoom and other staff areas still feel like you are in a prison due to the views of walled courtyards, staff in uniform and codes being called over the PA.” ”

When asked what would help with the mental and physical strain of the job? It was a connection to nature.

In his book, Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection, Stephen Kellert states, that work settings with attributes such as natural lighting and natural ventilation can improve worker satisfaction, enhance performance and reduce stress.

The ability for workers to see the sun, sky and trees can provide mental space through the day and the energy and connection that is often be lacking in these spaces.

Window placement and fence design

Another challenge revealed in the interview was the placement of windows. While they can provide a connection to daylight spaces and the outside environment, if they aren't placed well, they won't be utilised.

““Where I worked, the window placement allowed prisoners to see into our office space if we had the blinds up. This was uncomfortable for both parties – them watching us and us watching them. As a result, we often kept the blinds down.””

To avoid the situation from happening, it is essential for designers to carefully consider the positioning of staff areas in buildings and the relationship to prisoner areas. If possible, landscaping should be used to create visual barriers between staff and prisoners. Trees and planting outside windows can revitalise and inspire staff, especially in break areas.

It is also good to push the boundaries with fencing. Designers need to think beyond the standard brick or blockwork fence and find materials that are robust, safe and secure, but don’t have the institutional feel.

Materials that contrast the grey of blockwork and concrete

The overall design of the prison can also have an impact on staff. Prisons are getting bigger and, in many ways, becoming mini-cities with different building types and functions being carried out. Choosing materials that contrast the grey of blockwork and concrete can create a visual difference that eases the eye as they navigate different areas.

Abigail Wild, an undergraduate student of neuroscience, with a PhD/MPhil Criminology from Cambridge, states that "The material does not have to be of the natural kind but can be a representation." Due to the limiting material choices in a secure environment, using biophilic design principles to help improve health and wellbeing of users can be opened up by the idea of materials providing a representation of the natural world to provide contrast against the grey concrete.

To create spaces that consider the wellbeing of correctional staff, designers must continue to push the boundaries and acknowledge the trends and changes in traditional office design to see what can be utilised in a secure environment.

Not only will this have a positive effect on staff wellbeing and performance, but it will also have a positive impact on prison operations.

About the Author

Alexandra Kennedy is a registered architect and a valued member of our correctional design team. With over ten years’ experience in architectural design, documentation and contract administration, Alexandra has managed projects of varying scales, across multiple sectors in both Queensland and Victoria. She brings a creative yet methodical approach to design and enjoys the challenge of managing complex projects and collaborating with multiple consultants.

Designing the Guymer Bailey Melbourne Studio

The Guymer Bailey Melbourne team have been in their home at the “top of the hill” in Camberwell for just over two years now. In some ways, we are still settling in, with work continuing. Recently, we changed some of the fixed windows to operable louvres to allow for fresh air through the office and our “booths”, secluded seating pods that resemble phone booths are currently under construction.

Starting with an empty floor, many of the team have had hands on involvement in the development of the studio, including the design, building and constructing our own furniture.

To find out more about the aspirations for the Melbourne Studio we sat down for a Q&A session with Senior Architect, David Ash, who played the lead role in the design and construction of the office fitout.

Using three words how would you describe the concept for the Melbourne studio design?

Collaboration, transparency, democracy.

Where did the inspiration come from?

Our inspiration and design ideas came from the aspirations we have for the practice. This was one of the first “collaboration” projects amongst the senior staff in the office and we got to think about and decide what our office needed to be, and what we wanted it to be like, in terms of the culture and the direction.

What was the most challenging aspect of having our own studio as a project?

The short timeframe and budget. As we were moving out of our old office space and into a new one, we had to factor in the decision making of where we were moving to first.

There was no set budget to begin with, but after we did the initial design and got it tendered, that gave us the benchmark/reality of what we were aiming to achieve. We also had to consider the cost of relocating the entire office, and other related overheads so we had to be realistic with what we could and couldn’t do.

Having said that, constructing to a budget does assist in the design and evaluation process and in our case assisted us in filtering through our priorities – with extremely positive outcomes.

What’s the most rewarding aspect?

I’d have to say the collaboration and the way everything came together. There were a few hiccups along the way, but through open discussions and a shared vision there was a strong design consensus.

Having been out of the main studio and on site for almost five years (including one year at a project office) it was good to get back into the design headspace. There were so many design ideas piled up! I had a lot of aspirations about materials, for example timber, and many of those personal design ideas were incorporated into the final build, so this is rewarding too.

Which element are you the most excited about?

The collaboration space in the middle of the office. It reinforces all the ideas of creating a collaborative design studio and process, and it’s a significant space in the office.

How do you know which ideas to keep and which ones to let go?

When you have a solid concept it’s easy to tell which ideas can be let go. For example, I wanted to design curved timber walls, but instead we did plasterboard, which was more economical. We kept the form, but it wasn’t imperative to keep the timber.

What is your favourite thing about our Camberwell studio?

The culture created by the office fitout. We are on our way to a more collaborative approach to design. While the mindset of the industry now is focused on tight project timeframes and the speed at which multiple projects can be completed, through the studio fitout, particularly the collaboration table, we aim to put more emphasis and importance on the design process.

Nine key considerations in court design

Like all design exercises, there is a range of considerations when designing for Courts. Through this article, we will explore nine of these considerations – humanity, symbolism, tradition, innovation, security, efficiency, workplace, safety and technology – and how they influence the way we design justice architecture.

1. Humanity

One of the reasons “courtroom dramas” feature so heavily in books and movies is the heightened emotions and various tensions surrounding most judicial events. This, combined with the potential for the justice system to be seen as imposing and institutional, can create a de-humanised experience.

A key challenge for court designs is to mitigate, or at least not exacerbate, the feelings of anxiety, fear or intimidation that many feel when thrust into the Court system. The designer needs to be aware of issues around dignity, legibility and equity in contemporary courtroom design.

How does this translate to bricks and mortar or chairs and tables? A good example here is the question of the witness stand or dock.

“Research suggests that a defendant sitting in a glass-encased dock is twice as likely to be convicted…. Meanwhile, the jury is out on whether body language can be interpreted – should witness boxes conceal the person giving evidence? …and should a jury table be round, oval or rectangular, to avoid one person being seen as unequal?”

Ray Edgar, “New Shepparton court building tackles stress through design” The Age 12/03/2018

2. Symbolism

Photography by: Scott Burrows Photographer

Courts are steeped in symbols and symbolism. This makes the need to harness or control the symbolic content of any court design a crucial element of the design.

Metaphor and ritual play a strong role in courts, from Themis (Lady Justice blindfolded with her sword and scales) on down. At Shepparton, the town's strong Koori culture features in the court entrance. Wrapped layered timbers abstract the Koori court logo of a giant tree and its roots. The projecting layers suggest a canopy, a metaphor for a protective and secure meeting place. The tree motif extends throughout the building and is inlaid into the Koori court table.

Ray Edgar, “New Shepparton court building tackles stress through design” The Age 12/03/2018

Symbolism ranges from the grander, large scale gestures such as the ‘tree’ as a central metaphor at Shepparton Courts of Law, a project designed in partnership with Architectus, to small elements such as having judges positioned a step or two above the majority of the court.

We're trying to make less of the authoritarian symbols visible, so it becomes more inviting, less threatening. Our focus is the support of occupants through these processes. For us, that's what a modern court building is about.

Mark Wilde, Architectus

3. Tradition

Photography by: Scott Burrows Photographer

As a key institution in the social fabric of modern society, Courts come freighted with layers of tradition. Many are essential to preserve and foster; others deserve to be challenged as to whether they meet contemporary expectations.

Which is which? An example of a tradition to foster is the viewing gallery which allows proceedings to be witnessed by any member of the public to ensure transparency and oversight. In contrast, the opportunity to innovate with technology illustrates where a traditional value (the right to see your accuser in court) can be adapted to modern practices.

Traditionally, courts would have been closed rooms employing rich detailing and prestige materials to reinforce the serious nature of proceedings and authority of the court. A contemporary change in court design is to create courts that are light, open and transparent with a clean, sophisticated use of materials.

An equally powerful and consistent metaphor is told through the building's materials – the court is either transparent or, for reasons of privacy, translucent.

Ray Edgar, “New Shepparton court building tackles stress through design” The Age 12/03/2018

4. Innovation

One consequence of tradition in courtroom design is the opportunity for innovation. A good example here is the increasing use of in-court technologies in most judicial systems. Remote witness testimony allows vulnerable witnesses to appear and testify without the stress that can flow from being close to the accused. From the simple proposition of telepresence flows a range of physical, psychological and logistical considerations for the architect designing the spaces.

Another example of innovation which impacts court design is the expansion of third-party support services such as the Court Network, Cubby House or therapy dogs. Increasingly these are viewed as important ‘soft’ support services, which are included in courthouses to assist people navigating the stress and strains of the judicial process. With each comes a web of proximities and relationships to consider, as well as the physical space and infrastructure for them to operate.

5. Security

The consideration of security comes in to play in a range of ways. Firstly, and possibly most obviously in a post 9/11 world, there is a need for venues to be secure from hostile intent. Many of these important issues are addressed well before attendants reach the courtroom through screening or scanning, control of access or surveillance.

Next is the thought that some in attendance may be in custody and literally, need to be secured. For prisoners or remandees in custody, this involves a considerable ‘back-of-house’ infrastructure leading to their arrival in court. Courts are also the location for confidential matters with other security considerations, for example, acoustic privacy.

6. Efficiency

Photography by: Guymer Bailey Architects

The delivery of justice and the court system in general, are a costly public service, which all Courts are well aware of and seek to improve. In addressing this, all courts seek to be efficient, while striking a delicate balance with being thorough. A similar balance needs to be struck in designing the spaces and place in a court. The obvious example here is circulation in a courthouse or court complex.

In most court projects there are at least four separate systems of circulation – public, staff, judges and persons-in-custody. There can also be separate paths for jurors and witnesses, particularly vulnerable witnesses. At face value, this is incredibly inefficient and requires considerable space, even multiple elevators leading to attendant expense. However, the need for judges and staff to be at ‘arms-length’, for witnesses to feel safe and those in custody to be securely held are more over-riding priorities than the simplest, minimum configuration of circulation.

An example of good efficiency gains on the design front can be found in great wayfinding. Enabling practitioners, the public and staff to move efficiently to a destination through clear signage and logical adjacencies provides effective efficiency.

Scale and space help people avoid confrontation. Clear wayfinding is also important.

Ray Edgar, “New Shepparton court building tackles stress through design” The Age 12/03/2018

7. Workplace

Photography by: Guymer Bailey Architects

Another consideration in the design process is approaching the design as a workplace – since it is for judges, counsel, court staff, etc. Some of these are employees of the court; others are in court as a part of their working day. An example of the impact of considering this in the design is evaluating screening systems and who is able to skip this process due to prequalification.

Some courts allow legal practitioners to have access passes. Others require all legal practitioners and police prosecutors, their paperwork or electronic evidence and so forth, to pass through screen systems. This simple choice significantly changes the process of arriving at court and the times and space involved.

Another example is the incorporation of opportunities for landscaping, plants and biophilia. A great example of this is the hanging gardens and breakout areas included in QEII Courts of Law in Queensland.

8. Safety

Safety and security are related, but different considerations. A secure facility can restrict access to only peoples expected to be there, but if it allows a distressed person to be violent, then it is unsafe. Safety also ranges from the physical to the emotional. An example of this is providing segregation between parties in conflict, or between judges and the public.

While these are important, technical aspects to get right in the design, due to the nature of the adversarial justice system, the key consideration for designers regarding safety is the creation of an emotionally safe space, where intimate, personal, or painful matters can be explored to establish truth, trust and deliver justice.

"It noted significant deficiencies…It wasn't really a safe environment…because [people are] often exposed and having to share the same space as the perpetrators."

Ray Edgar, “New Shepparton court building tackles stress through design” The Age 12/03/2018

9. Technology

Like most of modern society, evolving technology is having significant impacts on the operation of courts. This ranges from the inclusion of remote access/witness programmes to the use of multimedia, trial management systems or physical aids like iPads in use for juries. Our experience across numerous jurisdictions shows the careful consideration courts apply to the technologies that are beneficial.

A good example of the maximised inclusion of technology in courts can be seen in the Moot Court at Monash University. Created as a teaching space, it is also very much an exploration of what the next steps for integrated technology in courtrooms can be in the near future.

As you can see, the design of courts requires a complex, multifaceted consideration of the technical and intangible aspects that are part of the modern court. All play a part in the success of the spaces created, whether it is the layout, material selection, acoustics or embedded symbolism.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the role it plays in correctional design

By Craig Blewitt

Have you ever noticed how some built spaces feel inherently comfortable and homely, and others can feel unwelcoming and unnerving? From a design perspective, there are many factors behind this dichotomy – scale, materiality, orientation to name but a few.

As designers, we always aim to create comfortable and welcoming spaces, but have you ever paused to wonder how that feeling of being truly comfortable is created on a psychological level? Instead of thinking about what a place needs for us to feel comfortable, perhaps we should be asking the reverse - what do we need to feel comfortable in a place?

If you’ve ever taken an introductory psychology class, you’ve more than likely heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up. If we start at the bottom of the hierarchy and move upwards, the needs are physiological, safety, love or belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualisation and transcendence.

The bottom four needs are characterised as deficiency needs. These needs arise from deprivation and are said to motivate people when the need is unmet. The motivation to fulfil deficiency needs becomes stronger, the longer they are denied. For example, the longer you go without food, the hungrier you are. The top four needs are characterised as growth needs. These stem not from the lack of something, but from a desire to grow as a person.

All sounds a bit too cryptic and abstract? Stick with me; it gets interesting when you apply this theory to the buildings and spaces we live in and view their design through this lens. For me, it gets even more interesting when you apply the theory to my area of expertise, the design of correctional facilities.

In many ways, the hierarchy that Maslow has given to human needs mirrors the progression that we aim for prisoners to experience during their time inside. Firstly, they are given accommodation and a place in which they hopefully feel safe (the basic needs).

Then, through programs and counselling, they try to repair relationships and rebuild their sense of self-esteem (the psychological needs). Finally, with education and rehabilitative support, prisoners hopefully reach a point where they have the skills and confidence to rejoin society upon their release (the self-fulfilment needs).

If the ultimate goal is for prisoners to progress to through the needs to reach the self-actualisation stage (rehabilitation) and the transcendence stage (helping others), then we need to consider what we can incorporate into designs to help each of the preceding needs to be met.

Ravenhall Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Physiological needs

While all prisons provide the basic needs of shelter and food, the design of facilities determines how well these needs are met. This includes the provision of natural ventilation for fresh air, heating and cooling to maintain a comfortable temperature range and acoustic treatments that allow for a quiet place for rest. All of these areas help in meeting the physiological needs of prisoners.

Safety needs

Creating an environment that feels safe for both staff and prisoners is always a challenge. The knee jerk reaction is often to create physical barriers to separate prisoner groups from each other and staff.

But simple things like designing in good passive surveillance, encouraging interaction between prisoners and staff, and the creation of spaces that range from private areas of seclusion to larger communal spaces, can often have a greater effect in making a correctional facility feel safe.

Love and belonging needs

We often, quite rightly, focus on destressing and normalising the experience for visitors so that prisoners can maintain a connection to loved ones. However, to properly address the need for ‘belonging’, our designs also need to enable a sense of community within correctional facilities, particularly for prisoners with longer sentences. Small things like creating gardens that prisoners can look after, and the installation of prisoner artwork can create a sense of ownership and belonging.

Hopkins Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Esteem needs

A great example of building self-esteem through design is the design of spaces that cater for people with disabilities to provide them with an increased sense of dignity and independence. The same focus on increasing dignity and independence can also be applied to the design of correctional facilities.

Technologies such as full-body scanners can improve prisoners sense of dignity through reducing the need for strip searches, the use of self-catering facilities for meals and laundry can improve prisoners sense of independence, and the provision of educational programs can provide prisoners with a sense of achievement. All of which can help improve prisoners sense of self-worth.

Cognitive needs

Inside a correctional centre, the freedom to learn and absorb knowledge can often be restricted by the environment. However, technology is making information and learning more and more accessible to prisoners.

About the Author

Craig Blewitt is one of our most experienced correctional architects, managing all correctional and justice projects in our Brisbane Studio and assisting on the large correctional projects managed by our Melbourne Studio.

Biophilic Design in Prisons

By Rachel Hur

Scenario

Imagine that you are in a cubicle located in the middle of the office floor plate. Your office has a glazed front, but you are looking into another open office. You have no real window or view to the outside, so you can't tell if it's raining outside or sunny. If you are lucky, and you do have a window, it's fixed, and you are looking into an office in the neighbouring building that is five metres away.

The fluorescent lighting that you sit under for eight hours has thrown out your body's natural circadian rhythm. The ventilation is alright, but you start to feel droopy at around 3pm because the carbon dioxide levels in your shoebox have risen. It might even feel a bit stuffy, regardless of the door being open or closed. As you don't have an operable window, you have been breathing in recycled air all day. When you get outside and take a breath, you will instantly notice that the air outside is fresh.

Now multiply that by five days a week, 48 weeks a year. Maybe you will get a pot plant in a few weeks.

The Biophilia Hypothesis

Exposure to the natural world is essential for human wellbeing because humans have an innate connection with the natural world (Gills).

It sounds obvious, doesn't it? But how often do we rely on the natural world to recharge and reconnect? We live in a world full of distractions and in a culture that prioritises efficiency, quick change and instant gratification. Is it any wonder that the rates of anxiety and depression are increasing, and our knowledge and awareness of mental health issues and mindfulness are growing to combat this?

We need the natural environment now more than ever. To look beyond the concrete jungle that has become our normal life, and find moments to breathe, destress and recover. Nature has been there all along, patiently waiting for us to stop, take a breath and recharge.

What does this have to do with design and architecture, you might ask?

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Biophilic Design – what is it?

Biophilic design philosophy encourages the use of natural systems and processes in design to allow for exposure to nature. Exposure to nature has been found to have positive responses on human psychology and physiology in contribution to improved health and wellbeing (Gills, Soderlund).

It is the integration of the biophilia hypothesis into design. Biophilic design has been further incorporated into environmental psychology theories of Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Recovery Theory. Both theories suggest that there are stressful and non-stressful environments and that non-stressful environments can actively help people recover from stress and fatigue (Gills).

These theories are supported by studies that have found that exposure to nature reduces heart rate variability and pulse rates, decreases blood pressure, lowers cortisol and increases parasympathetic nervous system activity, while lowering sympathetic nervous system activity (Soderlund).

Biophilia is not merely about providing trees and greenery, but consists of different natural layers, which can be divided into direct experience of nature (light, air, weather), indirect experience of nature (natural materials, evoking nature) and the experience of space and place (prospect and refuge, organised complexity).

What do we do with it?

As we specialise in correctional facilities here at Guymer Bailey, we strive to create humane environments that allow for rehabilitation. One of the key ways we do this is using biophilic design.

Let's face it; prisons are known to be "not nice". When we look at the statistics, 44.8% of prisoners released during 2014 – 2015 returned to prison within two years across Australia.

With a design focus on rehabilitation and not punishment, part of this rehabilitation is creating therapeutic spaces and calm environments where people can feel safe and secure. A lot of our decisions in the design process are around biophilic design such as providing access to natural light and fresh air, views to the landscape and use of colour and materials.

Enhancing living quality doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, it just comes down to prioritising and efficient design, and in the case of our secure facilities, the balance with security requirements.

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, a project completed almost a year ago in the Grampians Region, is an example of successful biophilic design implementation with views out beyond the perimeter fence to the mountains, natural light in every room for both residents and staff, and either operable windows or natural ventilation units in every room across the site. Timber has also been used internally and externally, and we retained as many existing trees as possible to keep that connection to nature. So far, we have received positive staff feedback about the therapeutic design of the facility and the benefits of being able to open all the office windows.

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

What can you do with it?

Biophilic design can reduce stress, improve cognitive performance and positively impact emotions and mood. What's more, it can be implemented in all typologies, including residential, education, commercial, health, and as you have seen corrections. We've even started to implement it in our own studios.

Our Brisbane studio has many operable windows, granted Brisbane has much better weather than Melbourne! In Melbourne, we are restricted from major modifications because we're on the fifth floor of a building but have a row of potted peace lilies to help filter the air. We have also recently replaced a fixed window with operable louvres, and even though it's only one, we've already started feeling the difference in the air (and no, it's not just the cold air of winter!). The CO2 levels are lower on that side of the studio as well.

It's not the easiest thing to change in a building already built, but biophilic design is something that we can design into new projects. Hospitals are seeing the benefits of biophilia for patients and have started building in courtyards and windows. Prisons are doing it; schools are doing it. When will you start doing it?

References

Gillis, K., Gatersleben, B. "A Review of Psychological Literature on Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Biophilic Design"

Soderlund, J., Newman, P. "Improving Mental Health in Prisons Through Biophilic Design"

About the Author

Rachel Hur specialises correctional architecture with a strong focus on rehabilitation and creating therapeutic spaces. This, combined with her passion for sustainability and biophilic design in prisons, makes her a valued member of the Guymer Bailey corrections team. Rachel was the Project Lead on the Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, which was recently shortlisted in the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards Sustainability Category.​​

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, a secure residential treatment facility designed to house 20 residents from serious sex offender and violent offender cohorts, has recently opened in the Grampians region of Victoria.

The post-sentence facility, designed by Guymer Bailey Architects, has been created to provide intensive treatment to target rehabilitation prior to transitioning back into the community and includes staff offices and training spaces, various rooms for programs, training and education and individual residential units to encourage independent and community living.

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Kavan Applegate the Project Director on the Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, said the Centre had been designed to reduce recidivism rates in Victoria.“This facility is the first of its kind in Victoria and displays the commitment Corrections Victoria has to providing intensive treatment and supervision to serious offenders to reduce risk of reoffending.”

To avoid an institutional feel, the Centre uses a mix of warm materials such as timber both internally and externally throughout the buildings, as well as landscaped outdoor areas (with walking paths, gardens and exercise equipment) to provide a greater connection to nature from both staff and resident areas. Independent living has also been encouraged through the design, with individual residential units linked to communal spaces.

“The individual residential units are designed to encourage independent living for residents to help them transition back into society. Shared communal spaces also allow for community-type interactions with other residents in a way that is very different to the operations within a correctional facility. Research from the UK has shown that supported housing like this is an important part of effective rehabilitation and reintegration.” Kavan said.

There are three standout design features of Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre:

The Perimeter Fence

Due to the secure nature of the brief, the perimeter fence still needed to function like a prison perimeter – but these traditionally feel harsh and overbearing. To minimise the correctional feel, a fence was designed with precast concrete panels at the bottom and with a perforated steel fence above. An image of trees is created with the perforations in the fence providing visual relief in the perimeter border. The fence has been detailed in such a way that it maintains the required security levels.

The Timber Cladding

The main building is clad in timber on the second floor to distinguish it from the other single-storey buildings and almost eliminate the feeling of being inside a secure facility. The timber cladding also forms an anti-climb façade to the resident side. Blackbutt timber was used due to its amazing, rich tone that will naturally grey over time.

Programs Building at Rivergum. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

The Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Initiatives

To ensure sustainability through the design of the Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre, we worked closely with our expert ESD Consultant who guided our material and systems selections to maximise quality and long-term savings. These initiatives also aim to reduce energy consumption and decrease impact on the environment.

Passive Design: Passive environmental design principles were incorporated into the buildings to reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling, and calculated sun shading elements such as the timber fins on the main building’s northern façade were also built in to reduce summer heat loads. Other passive design techniques include attention to building orientation, insulation, natural ventilation and thermal properties of materials.

The windows of the facility were specified to have high performance, double-glazed units, which minimises heat transmittance, and thermally broken aluminium window frames to eliminate cold bridges from the outside temperature into the buildings. The staff offices also have double glazed operable louvres, which operate automatically depending on the internal office conditions to maintain optimum indoor air quality. 

Putting preference on natural ventilation to achieve high indoor air quality levels, most of the rooms across the site, including the residential units, utilise a Lunos unit, which continuously trickles in fresh air from the outside without the need for a full HVAC system and thus decreases energy use. The main Programs building was given a central, triangular courtyard to minimise depths of floor plates to maximise natural day light into the spaces, reducing the need for full internal lighting during the day.

Central Staff Courtyard. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Materials: Insulated precast concrete sandwich panels were used inside to maintain high R-values and stabilise internal temperatures. The floors throughout the facility are generally honed concrete, which also attributes to thermal mass, reduces the need for additional flooring material and creates a raw but characteristic finish to the spaces.

Insulated sandwich panel roofing completes the continuous insulation around the buildings. This was achieved by careful detailing of the insulation in the walls and to the underside of the slab which all join with the roof insulation like an uninterrupted wrap around the building. This essentially stops any heat or cool air leaking out of the buildings, which can lead to overuse of HVAC systems and creates a continuous insulation wrap around the buildings .

Staff Breakout. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Residential units use the thermal mass of the brick veneer and concrete filled structural walls to keep the units cool in the summer and warm in the winter without mechanical systems . The floors in the residential units have in-slab hydronic heating. The high thermal mass of the concrete allows for it to absorb, store and release heat, thus making the heating system more effective with less energy use for winter months. All the residential units also utilise the Lunos units and have operable windows, filling the units with constant fresh air and freedom for users to control the internal environment based on their needs.

A geothermal system supplies energy for the hydronic heating, further reducing the heating energy consumption. The geothermal system also provides cooling for the mechanical systems in the main programs building by circulating coolant through loops in the ground that use the natural sub-surface temperatures to cool down before recirculating again.

Geothermal energy is still not very common in Australia, but when used in conjunction with the other sustainable initiatives at Rivergum, such as understanding thermal mass of materials like concrete and combining it with effective systems like in-slab heating, it is designed to reduce energy consumption and provides a better environmental outcome as it relies on natural ground temperatures and only requires a small pump to recirculate coolant through the pipes.

Multi-Faith Chapel and Contemplative Garden. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

On Site Collection: External sustainable initiatives were also included in the design such as solar panel shade structures over the car park and thoughtful design of networked swales to maximise stormwater capture for storage in underground water tanks.

The solar shade structure use is a two-fold: one was to provide off-grid power to the facility; and the other, to provide staff vehicles protection from the extreme summer and winter temperatures. Each car space is estimated to provide approximately 3kWh. To compare, an average household of one person uses approximately 9kWh per day. 60 car spaces are covered, which means there is enough power generated to supply around 20 single households per day.

The facility is 100% electric, and the inspiration behind this innovative idea was the Department’s aspiration for Net Zero Energy in all new facilities. By harnessing clean energy, the facility can reduce its carbon footprint and has a chance to offset the embodied and consumed energy of the materials, construction and use of the facility.

Solar Panel Shade Structure. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

The Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre is a clear example of what can be achieved through innovative rehabilitative design. Providing a non-institutional space which still operates as a secure facility, residents can more easily adjust to life in the community.

The Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre was recently shortlisted in the 2019 Victorian Architecture Awards Sustainability Category.

Normalisation in the Correctional Environment

Normalisation has become a bit of a buzzword in the design of correctional facilities, but what does it really mean? A group of the Guymer Bailey team sat down recently to discuss what constitutes a normalised environment and how close we’re getting to achieving it.

What does normalising a correctional environment mean? What do you see as the main benefits?

Kavan Applegate –  The normalisation of ‘what’ needs to be asked. Is a correctional environment aiming to be/look/feel like a house? Or a school campus? Is a cell trying to feel like a bedroom? Or is it more about normalising daily routines and activities? “Normal” environments are often messy or untidy, but institutions aim to be clean and tidy. Is it OK if a cell is a mess, like someone lives at home? Maybe ‘normalised’ isn’t the right word?

Yoshi Seki – In my opinion, normalcy is about allowing prisoners to manage their life within prison to give them a better chance of adjusting back into society upon release. Normalisation comes about through a combination of the physical environment and the way the correctional centre operates. It’s about emphasising the rehabilitation aspect more than punishment, which ultimately reduces chance of reoffending. 

Hopkins Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Rachel Hur – For me, it’s about providing a humane space – which is difficult to define because there are so many different views on corrections and there is a certain dogma around what a prison should be.

Amanda Larsson – The environment should cater for the natural variations in people’s personality and mood. The interiors and landscape should cater for everything from large active social groups, to quieter conversation spaces and areas of solitude. The simple act of providing variation in the size of seating groups can create different zones of privacy and interaction that mimics societal norms.

Ben Roberts - I think the research on this topic speaks for itself. We need to change the mentality of prisons as a tool of punishment. How can people be expected to rehabilitate and normalise back into society if we lock them in a hard concrete box?

Alie Kennedy - Making sure that it is not institutional is so important for rehabilitation of the prisoners. I see that giving the prisoners an environment that they can be proud of will generally encourage them to treat it with respect, as well as changing their mood about their environment and themselves and each other. We know that most prisoners have not had the easiest life and a “normal” environment might be the one they have never experienced – which comes back to Kavan’s earlier point about defining what ‘normal’ means. I think we need to do our bit to promote this and contribute to dropping recidivism rates as much as we can. 

Ralph Bailey - If prisoners are treated well and given opportunities, they can develop behaviour management and self-control skills, and can learn vocational skills that will benefit them on their return to society. Treat them poorly and they’re more likely to leave prison angry and with limited skills to obtain work and integrate back into society, which makes recidivism more likely.

Craig Blewitt – I agree, prisoners are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment. The vast majority of prisoners are released back into general society at some point, so it’s important that the conditions inside help prisoners to develop and maintain a normalised routine so that they’re better prepared for release. Simple things such as getting up and going to work or education, taking care of their own health, meals and laundry can play a huge role in helping prisoners transition to normal life once they are released.

Ralph Bailey – Ongoing visitation from family and friends is critical to normalising the life of prisoners. It allows them to maintain and, in many cases, repair the relationships that will support them throughout their sentence and underpin their integration back into society when they’re released.

Amanda Larsson – The landscape environment plays a huge role in destressing this experience for visitors. The approach to the site, and the walk from the carpark to the gatehouse set the tone for the visits experience. The connection between the gatehouse and visits which can often be a sterile and confronting environment, has the opportunity to provide a zone of respite for visitors to decompress after moving through security screening – and we have had the opportunity to embrace this approach in recent projects.

Ben Roberts - Nature and the built environment can drastically change people’s emotions, and there is no reason a prison can’t take advantage of this. If we provide spaces where visitors feel welcome, they’ll come back. If we can provide spaces where prisoners can reflect, learn, grow they must have a better chance when they get back into society.

Rachel Hur – It begins with the architecture of the whole place because it can influence how someone feels and acts in a space. Therefore, being able to inject elements for basic human needs such as access to daylight, fresh air and nature are very fundamental and pretty much a necessity for any sort of design.

Yoshi Seki – I couldn’t agree more, and I think that’s where design can play a big role. Prisons are often a very confrontational place for visitors, so by making the experience for visitors – the gatehouse, security screening and the visits centre – as welcoming as possible, it helps to encourage visitors to return.

Hopkins Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

How do you balance creating a normalised environment with the security and movement control required for a correctional centre?

Ben Roberts - This is the challenge. In part comes down to the architecture and partly the operations. I think we need to rely on both for the best result and not just one or the other. We need architecture that gives prisoners opportunity and need to trust the staff enough to manage this.

Rachel Hur - This is actually quite an interesting design challenge. The security and movement control are obviously a top priority for the safety of everyone in the facility, including staff, but it’s trying to find a creative solution for “normalising” this that’s a good challenge and can be achieved in different ways.

Yoshi Seki – I think the approach generally depends of the security level of the facility as this often determines the level of freedom afforded to prisoners and the approaches we take as designers to normalising the environment. An example would be the selection of finishes to suit different security levels of accommodation. In a minimum-security facility, we’re able to select more domestic style finishes in order to soften and normalise environment. Where dealing with higher security classifications, we need to specify more robust and durable materials, so the challenge becomes making selections that still create a normalised and engaging feel for occupants.

Amanda Larsson – The same consideration for materiality and finishes applies in the landscape design for different security classifications. Our objective is always to ensure enough soft scaping in the form of garden beds and trees make it into the design without compromising safety, but the security level then influences how we achieve that objective. In lower security facilities the experience of the landscape is generally tactile – planting prisoners can touch and interact with. In higher security facilities its more of a visual connection to borrowed landscapes, with the accessible landscape elements becoming more subdued.

Ralph Bailey – The effective segregation and movement controls for different prisoner cohorts can also help to provide normalised environment for all prisoners. By designing correctional facilities to reduce the likelihood of conflicting prisoner groups from coming into direct contact with each other, it helps to create a sense of safety for prisoners. And, this is even more-so when it can be achieved without relying on timetabling to avoid the interactions. When a prisoner feels safe in their environment, they’re more likely to be more social and more willing to participate in rehabilitative and vocational programs and training.

Amanda Larsson – How you go about creating a secure barrier to accommodation communities or a whole facility can have a huge impact on the whether an environment feels normalised or not. While there is always the security reality of needing fences and walls to contain and separate prisoner cohorts, innovative design solutions can break down the visual scale of the barriers. Through varying materials and creating views to landscaped spaces through and beyond the fences and walls, it can decrease the feeling of prisoners feeling enclosed or being ‘caged in’.

Ben Roberts - Technology is providing opportunities for managing prisoner movements, and this is something that will keep improving. Advancements and cost reductions are already allowing surveillance in areas that would have previously put a guard in a dangerous position. I’m sure this will improve further allowing us to stretch correctional design in ways that we couldn’t before.

How close are we getting to creating a truly normalised correctional environment? What areas can we improve on or give more consideration to?

Kavan Applegate - I think we’ve come a reasonable distance toward a normalised environment in some jurisdictions. Hopkins Correctional Centre and Ravenhall Correctional Centre both have open campuses which are approaching the scale and aesthetic of university campuses. Individual buildings still use concrete and blockwork, which is necessary from a construction approach, but there definitely needs to be more focus on reducing the scale of the large accommodation buildings – at least in terms of visual bulk, variation, and colour.

Yoshi Seki - I think the design of cell fit outs and colour schemes still needs more work – this is where many prisoners spend the majority of their time. While the need to minimise ligature points does decrease design options, and the robustness requirements limit the options for materiality, this is an area that will see more development in the coming years.

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Craig Blewitt – I think smaller scale projects such as the Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre and Totalspace Design’s redevelopment of the Ruby Unit at Adelaide Women’s Prison have shown how the incorporation of many materials not normally allowed within secure facilities allows the creation of a very domestic feel within quite a secure environment. And, with minimal risk.

Alie Kennedy – These projects have gone a long way to creating a normalised environments for prisoners, but we still have to acknowledge the security overlays of the environment we’re designing means that normalising every aspect of a prison design has limitations – and that inspires us to constantly strive to find ways of getting as close to the normalised environment, within these limitations.

Designing Inbox on 3: An Interview with the Designers

Co-working spaces are rapidly growing in popularity in the startup and small business sectors offering founders an affordable workplace away from home, a sense of community and all the benefits of collaborative working.

But what goes into designing a co-working space that allows for the collaboration of ideas while optimising individual productivity? We sat down with Associate Architect Suzanne Goodson and Senior Interior Designer Severina Galvin to find out what went on behind the scenes of the design of Inbox on 3, a co-working space located in Maroochydore on the Queensland Sunshine Coast.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the design?

Suzanne: The design was based on the concept of transitioning from shelter to exposure, a metaphor for how we viewed arriving at the beach – departing your vehicle, navigating vegetation and sand dunes as you walk out to the open beach and water’s edge.

The amazing location the building created natural synergies to what we wanted to provide. In the design of Inbox on 3, ocean views are gradually revealed as you navigate through the workspace and move from glazed private offices to semi-enclosed feature pods and then open edge workspaces. This allowed us to take advantage of the views while providing the occupants with a blend of privacy and the opportunity to collaborate.

Q: What were the main objectives that needed to be achieved?

Suzanne: With a desire to create a high-end workspace for platinum members, the main objective of the design was to create a luxurious workspace that skilfully balanced interaction for collaboration and retreat for high-concentration work.

As the client wanted to reach a particular occupancy, a mix of offices including private offices, workspace pods and open plan desks were necessary to achieve this.

Q: What challenges did you face through the design process?

Severina: One of the big challenges we faced through the design process was planning the layout to achieve all objectives. We needed to provide privacy and a sense of enclosure through the workplace without compromising the access to daylight, ocean views and opportunities for the exchange of ideas. We also needed to maximise the letting area while still creating fun and inviting breakout spaces.

Suzanne: As Inbox on 3 was the second co-working space we’ve designed for Inbox, following the success of Inbox on 2, one of the design challenges we experienced was to create a unique, luxurious workspace on 3 while also ensuring it tied into the design on 2.

Q: What are your favourite design elements?

Severina: My favourite design element is the meandering angled low height spine walls with planters that skirt the workspace pods and trace a path through the space reminiscent of the water’s edge.

Suzanne: I love the beautifully appointed kitchen. Often these spaces are very practical and not at all welcoming, and this is something we were motivated to change through the design. The result is a space that is both beautiful and relaxing.

Q: Why did you choose the colours and materials?

Suzanne: The material pallet selected was minimal and predominantly dark with navy and black and accents of rich copper, gold trims and smoky mirrors to provide a sense of depth and opulence. The teal through the design is representative of the ocean, as we wanted this to have a starring role.

The colours and materials were also chosen to marry in with the floor below, while also still being different enough to create a unique workspace for platinum members.

Q: Did you include any sustainable features?

Severina: LED lighting and low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) materials were used in the design. We also made a point of installing a shower room that was previously not available to building users. While this isn’t a direct sustainable feature of the building, it does provide ‘end of trip’ facilities to encourage workers to use alternative transport like cycling.

Suzanne: When working in an existing building you can be limited when it comes to sustainable inclusions. We did, however, make conscious choices around air quality including a dramatic curved living green wall, and internal screens that are planted out.

Q: What are your top tips for designing an office space?

Severina: Environmental sustainability should be high on your list of priorities when designing an office space as it can have significant benefits for both the client and end-user. Engaging a collaborative design team of architects and interior designers can also work to your advantage as together they can explore and develop the design in a way that achieves a more considered and refined space.

Suzanne: The key is to take a good brief from the client and also the users to find out what is needed and wanted for the space. Then it is a matter of finding how you can add value and uniqueness of the area without compromising on functionality and practicality. With commercial projects, we like to consider the triple bottom line to create commercial spaces that achieve maximum yields for owners, are flexible and appealing workspaces for tenants and are inviting and welcoming to customers and the general public.

To view Inbox on 3 and more of our commercial projects click here[HYPERLINK TO: https://www.guymerbailey.com.au/projects-all?tag=Commercial+and+Civic],or contact us on 07 3870 9700 (Brisbane) or 03 8547 5000 (Melbourne).

Interior Designer Q&A – Severina Galvin

With our internal environment playing such a crucial role in our happiness, productivity and wellbeing we sat down with Guymer Bailey’s Senior Interior Designer Severina Galvin from our Brisbane studio to ask her what really goes into creating interiors people love to live, work and learn in.

First things first, tell us a bit about yourself...

My interest in the design field began with visual arts exploring painting, printmaking and sculpture initially and then evolving into installation art. Interior design then became the next logical step for me as I was more interested in exploring a person’s interpretation of their environment and how they come to assign meaning to their experience of it.

I graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 2000 with a Bachelor of Built Environment (Interior Design) and Graduate Diploma in Interior Design. I then worked in interiors for a variety of Interior Design and Architectural firms and also Government both in Brisbane and Sydney on projects big and small, which eventually led me to my current passion for sustainable design.

What do you love most about being an interior designer?

Interior design is a collaborative process of a series of ideas, constructs and decisions about function, aspirations, culture, cost, time and carbon among others that have a very tangible built environment outcome. I thoroughly enjoy seeing how this unfolds in its unique way on every project like a puzzle or a maze.

Who or what inspires your design? Do you have any influences?

Influences and inspiration that affect my thinking come from a mix of sources that are mostly sustainability, popular culture and technology based.

Some of these include the ReNew and Sanctuary magazines, Dezeen online, Indesign magazine, Australian Institute of Architects’ EDG newsletter, GBCA publications, newsletters and events, Design Institute of Australia’s Artichoke magazine and Spark newsletter, CSIRO’s publications, blogs and newsletter, Meetup environment and sustainability group’s events, and a host of sustainability vlogs.

Walk us through your design process, how do you create an interior clients love?

My design process begins with getting to know the client, their brief and the project background so that I can understand the main drivers for the project and what really matters to both the client and end users of the interior.

Next, I explore the specific sustainable design possibilities and challenges that can be influenced. A project-specific strategy of ideas then emerges to align the values and drivers of the project with its functional requirements and the desired sustainability outcome. The rest is negotiation and teamwork.

What has been your most favourite project to design?

Rather than having one favourite project, I tend to enjoy bits and pieces from various projects, such as:

• Incorporating beautiful daylight and sky views in a fitout with no windows through the use of solatubes

• Achieving just the right “quiet in the zone’ feel at the work pods in a co-shared workspace space

• The way reflected sunlight shines and sparkles off the mirror splashback tiles in a breakout space

• Achieving just the right feel of quiet and ‘in the zone’ sense at the work pods in a co-shared workspace space together with the sparkly mirror splashback tiles

• Reading that violence is down, and staff-inmate relations have improved in a prison project I worked on; and

• Getting away with specifying only ESD certified wall cladding for a large townhouse development

To name only a few!

What would be your dream design project?

Anything where sustainable outcomes are valued, and we don’t have to demolish what is there to build it new again.

What is your top interior design tip?

Reuse, recycle and reduce of course!

Why sustainability is needed in schools

Photography by Scott Burrows

By Phil Jackson

With greater demands to decrease costs, and a desire to minimise environmental impact, improve efficiency and increase student learning and performance, schools are starting to recognise the need to become more sustainable.

But with many principals, boards and P&F committees balancing multiple needs, there is often a focus on short-term costs and savings, which can create more resistance around the long-term move towards greater sustainability.

To help you shift your perspective, I’ll explore three reasons why sustainability is needed in schools and how it can give your school and students a greater competitive edge.

1. Improve performance with greater comfort and air quality

Photography by Scott Burrows

While many schools install air-conditioning for the comfort of students and teachers, what most staff members and P&F committees are unaware of is that the quality of air can be dramatically affected. In air-conditioned environments more Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is present in the air, affecting the cognitive ability and learning capability of students in the classroom.

It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? We put students into classrooms and exam rooms that are air-conditioned for their comfort only to create the worst possible air quality for them to perform and compete against other schools in.

The good news is that through sustainable initiatives both the comfort and air quality of classrooms can be improved. While there are times when air-conditioning must be used, there are times when air-conditioning could be minimised through the use of a more effective passive ventilation design (like using louvres) that will allow greater fresh air and breezes through the classroom.

Do measures like this make an impact, you might ask? A study done by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that examined the costs and benefits of green schools for Washington State estimated a 15% reduction in absenteeism and a 5% increase in test scores.

2. Minimise costs and reduce inefficiency

Photography by Scott Burrows

With air-conditioning seen as a necessity, little thought or planning can go into the ongoing cost and maintenance of systems. Energy bills can skyrocket, particularly when there is little education or incentive around minimising air-conditioning use in classrooms.

By linking both passive ventilation methods and air-conditioning to both a smart (automatically switches between passive ventilation, assisted ventilation, or air-conditioning based on settings) and manually controlled system, staff and students can become more conscious of their decision to use air-conditioning within the classroom. The installation of a CO2 monitor (Australian Geographic has a weather system that measures CO2 levels) can also be a valuable teaching tool to show the air quality of each classroom when the air-conditioning is on.

Schools can further encourage more sustainable thinking through the use of incentives, offering a reward to the class who uses air-conditioning the least throughout the term.

A holistic site approach that considers the use of shading, solar power, and LED lighting can also further reduce costs.

3. Boost student engagement with different teaching environments

Photography by Scott Burrows

Photography by Scott Burrows

While children thrive in routine, even their performance can be impacted by working in the same environment all of the time. By creating outdoor classroom environments, teachers and students can venture outside when the weather allows for different learning opportunities.

This not only boosts student engagement, but it also minimises costs of lighting and air-conditioning while providing greater connection to the landscape and better working conditions.

One example of the outdoor classroom idea is the Kimberley College Flexible Learning Area we designed.

Combining adaptable indoor learning spaces with flexible outdoor spaces that are large enough for full class groups, students are given many varied opportunities for interaction, performance, collaboration and connection to nature. The feedback from these outdoor classrooms and others like it have been overwhelmingly positive, with teachers and students both saying they are a pleasure to work in.

Schools that are making sustainability part of their governance are not only reaping the benefits of minimised costs and greater student engagement and performance; they are also addressing one of our greatest social challenges by empowering the next generation to be more environmentally minded.

About the Author

Phil Jackson is a Director of Guymer Bailey Architects and has a passion for sustainable design outcomes and the integration of architecture and landscape. From conception through to construction he ensures the delivery of outstanding projects and satisfied clients through open communication and enthusiasm for every project.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve wins 2018 AIA Award for Sustainable Architecture

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve wins 2018 Australian Institute of Architects Award for Sustainable Architecture

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Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Cafe (lower level), and viewing deck (upper level)

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Guymer Bailey Architects was announced as the winner of the coveted 2018 Australian Institute of Architects Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture, for the design of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, an iconic conservation, recreation, education and tourism asset located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

The Award, which recognises projects that excel as architecture, and also displays innovation and excellence in terms of environmental sustainability, was awarded to Guymer Bailey Architects in design collaboration with local Designer Norman Richards Design and Interiors.  The new Discovery Centre and Café was designed for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to strengthen the role the Reserve plays in the conservation and display of local flora and fauna.

The Discovery Centre, which also received a commendation in the Public Architecture category, nestles sensitively into Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve’s complex nitophyll vine forest, one of the last remaining examples of this vegetation community that once covered the Blackall Ranges. Inside, the Centre contains innovative rainforest interpretative displays and has two frontages to provide spectacular views of both the Glass House Mountains and rainforest reserve.

Outside, a long timber boardwalk loops around the building allowing scenic access and learning opportunities for visitors with informative signage featured along the way. Sensitive to the heavily protected forest, the boardwalk was threaded through the existing flora to minimise the building footprint. To further minimise disruption, plant species endemic to the area were used for additional landscaping, and most of the design materials were sourced locally.

Phil Jackson, Director and design architect of Guymer Bailey Architects on the project has this to say about the project and win.

”Mary Cairncross is an incredibly important project to us, and everyone involved. With such an amazingly beautiful and well-loved site, we were conscious of the responsibility the team carried to the community to create a special building and landscape. 

The design and delivery was genuinely collaborative from start to finish, and we wish to thank all those involved. We are humbled by the recognition the project has received, particularly for sustainability, as it reinforces our commitment to responsible, sustainable design for the community.”

To view the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve project click here:

Ravenhall Prison Named Australia's Best Infrastructure Project

Victoria’s $670 million Ravenhall Prison Project has been named as Australia’s best infrastructure project at Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s National Infrastructure Awards.

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Ravenhall Prison - Original concept design

““It is exciting to see the Ravenhall Prison Project win the Project of the Year Award as it is the first privately delivered prison project Victoria has seen in about 20 years – delivered on-budget and on-time” ”

— IPA Chief Executive Adrian Dwyer.

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Gatehouse

“The Ravenhall Prison Project fundamentally transforms the way that support is provided to people in the justice system in Victoria.

“In a Victorian first, the proponents will oversee all elements of the prison’s operations, including custodial services, with performance targets to directly reduce the rate of recidivism.

“Australia is a world leader in bringing together the public and private sectors through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to deliver better outcomes for the community.

“The Ravenhall Prison Project is a stellar example of the evolution of the PPP model in Australia and shows what can be achieved when the public and private sectors collaborate to achieve good outcomes.

“I pass on my congratulations to the winners of the Project of the Year Award tonight,” Mr Dwyer said.

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Transitions Hub Courtyard

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Community 4

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Cell Building Day Room

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Internal recreation space

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The National Infrastructure Awards are convened by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia each year, recognising excellence in public administration and business, across major projects. The Project of the Year is the most prestigious of the Awards.