Phil Celebrates 25 Years at Guymer Bailey

2020 marks a special year in the career of our Directors, Phil Jackson and Kavan Applegate - they both celebrate 25 years at Guymer Bailey Architects. After celebrating Kavan’s anniversary early this year, this week is Phil’s turn.

To mark this occasion and celebrate the incredible contribution Phil has made to Guymer Bailey Architects, we reached out to some of his friends, team and clients to hear what they had to say about him.

“25 years - congratulations! Are you sick of me yet?! I’m remembering long, long hours on uni assignments together (and you realising we needed to completely redesign a railway station 3 weeks before it was due) and loads of wonderful projects we’ve worked on over the years. I couldn’t be prouder to be your business partner, and dear, dear friend.”

— Kavan Applegate

“I clearly remember the day you started as a student architect with Tim and I at GBA, Phil. I watched you develop as you finished your degree and took up Project Architect roles often with me on my projects, plus many of your own over the years.

I recognised your design talents early and saw a great future for you. I really enjoyed working with you over the last 25 years. When GBA joint ventured with Architectus to go after the Brisbane Supreme Court, Phil you happily took up the project with me and we spent much time together out of the Architectus office in the city. You have won architectural awards for your own projects too.

When Tim and I decided to sell GBA to our staff, I was personally pleased to see you take up the challenge to be a part owner of GBA and to see you with Kavan Applegate and Paul Mathieson develop the company into what it is today.”

— Ralph Bailey

“Phil congratulations on a successful 25 years. It is rare to work with someone that sets an enviable standard – Phil is one such example. He listens, considers, and relentlessly works to get a high quality outcome and always has time for all team members. His professionalism and ease of interaction makes him a delight to work with and I always feel we will outperform when working together.”

— Dr Iain C. Jennings

“Congratulations Phil for all the years of work and leadership at GBA - and you still look so young! ...and are still able to laugh! How can you work so hard and long and still find humour and delight? Thank you for the tireless work you put in for the Catholic schools especially the LLS ERaMPs! Your dedication, inspiration and perspiration and the calibre of the team you applied to that big project were beyond anything any client should ever expect. Your ability to engage with, consult and sort out that herd of cats and the graciousness with which you did it was simply extraordinary. I am sure it was what you might consider your “ordinary” modus operandi and if that is so you have many happy clients I am sure. Cheers and all the very best.”

— Rick Dalmau

“Congratulations on 25 years Phil, it has been an absolute pleasure to work for a great company under your leadership. Over the last 12 years I’ve learnt so much from you and I am often overwhelmed by your dedication, passion, and knowledge. Your calm approach to any challenge is a real asset and your understanding and drive for sustainable outcomes admirable.”

— Suzanne Goodson

“I remember coming to my job interview where I briefly met you Phil yet walked away with a really good feel, mostly due to your nature. It’s crazy to think you have been here for 25 years - and that you’re younger than me!! GBA was your first and only right?! So, it must be time for you to make a change, get out and broaden your horizons 😉!

A few words that I think sum you up Phil (in no particular order):
Fair
Calm
Can laugh and take a joke
Extremely ethical
Reserved, unassuming and avoids the spotlight
Modest
Good guy and excellent leader
Great dad (not sure about husband…wink wink)
Trusting
Way too hard a worker!
… and without doubt an amazing designer

I wouldn’t want to work any where else. The effort that you and Kavan make to ensure GBA is a great place to work is second to none. From the space we work and collaborate, to the ‘social bits’, both in and out of the office. It’s been challenging but definitely enjoyable working with you. Congratulations on your accomplishments and where you have come in 25 years! It’s no mean feat!”

— Scott Schindel

“Phil Jackson congratulations on your 25 year anniversary. We love your work, your problem solving skills are always on point and delivered with a smile. It’s a pleasure to work with a consummate professional who I would never hesitate to recommend”

— Allan Satterthwaite

“Thank you Phil for the opportunity to work together on Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. You’re a gifted designer and exceptional manager with a great team. Congratulations on 25 years with GBA - you’re a star! ”

— Norman Richards

Phil’s impressive career has included designing many award-winning projects including the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Discovery Centre, Brisbane Supreme and District Courts, Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre and the Caloundra Courthouse and Watchhouse. We’ve included some of our favourite projects that Phil has worked on below.

Phil, thank you for your leadership, design nous and passion that is seen through all that you do. Here’s to the next 25 years!

Maintaining the culture of our Melbourne studio through lockdown

By Beth Perera

I have recently celebrated my fifth work anniversary at Guymer Bailey Architects, and of course, we celebrated it in style – it would be unlike me to allow a pandemic to ruin my parade. Like many milestones in life, this has offered me the opportunity to reflect, not only on my own career, but on the achievements of our company and in my role as Melbourne cultural lead, our team.

Despite our social distances and isolation, the COVID-19 pandemic has in many ways brought us closer as a team, and I wanted to unpack what worked for us in maintaining the great culture we have in our Melbourne studio through lockdown. 

Care from the top down

We are very fortunate here at Guymer Bailey, to have two directors, Kavan Applegate in Melbourne, and Phil Jackson in Brisbane, who genuinely care about their team. 

In times of crisis our true colours show and to observe the genuine level of care and concern that both directors have shown towards the team, and the level of commitment to ensure that everyone has what they need to work efficiently from their “not-so-short-term” home office has been incredible. 

Compassion from the team

I have watched the pressures of 2020 create diamonds within my team this year. Colleagues have been connecting, reaching out and checking on each other.

From the moment we entered stage 4, I was welcomed with a weekly 30-minute phone call from a colleague in our studio in Brisbane.  We did not need to speak about COVID-19, we had Honey Jumbles to discuss instead.  Each week I would get off that 8am call, with joy in my heart and an extra injection of energy into my day.  Who would have thought, that is all it takes? 

Clear and kind communication

Lockdown has not been easy, but the focus on communication within project teams and the wider office has eliminated a sense of isolation.  The reminders to exercise an extra bit of grace and to not assume someone is coping with lockdown just because they appear to be, has been a strong message and a constant reminder to us every week from our leaders.  

A willingness to grow and develop through the challenges

I have been inspired by my colleagues who have shifted their perspective to see this as an opportunity to grow and develop. They embraced changes and technology implementations willingly and rose to the occasion to produce the same amazing design outcomes – despite the added challenges. I have watched each of them become stronger, more resilient human beings because of it.

I have also truly admired the strength of our new additions – yes, we hired several people during the Lockdown 3.  All three in the Melbourne studio have completed their probation period now. I look forward to introducing them to the human versions of our team, which they only know via Teams, Zoom or Skype and thanking them in person for being great additions to the team, and adding those extra facets to our existing diamond. 

Regular social connection

 We have done well in supporting each other in different ways.  Every week we had socials (appropriately named My Corona and Quarantini hour) and when things got really tough regular games of online Pictionary.  We did not need to speak about our problems, we got together, laughed at our drawings, and forgot about the problems of the world for a moment.  There is power in that simplicity and connection. 

That is not to say that we ignored what was going on though.  We encouraged the tribe to acknowledge their feelings and allow themselves to honour their emotions.  To accept that there will be days where you struggle to process information and to be kind to yourself through this. That it was OK to have a day and to go offline if you needed it, and we supported that decision.

Life from home and one desk is not easy.  Knowing that you have permission to step away, take a walk to clear your mind, and to then return to your task was endorsed, and had great efficiency outcomes – we all won.

They say it starts at the top, and they also say what does kill you makes you stronger, I must agree. I know there have been many times where this year has felt like a write off, but at the same time, I find myself reflecting on some incredible moments.  I will always remember my fifth year at Guymer Bailey as my year of growth and resilience – and the year that I could not be any prouder and grateful for my brilliant tribe and tribe leaders - thank you, team!

Why harsh prison environments are not the answer

As leaders in correctional architecture, we often get a lot of questions around designing correctional facilities. One question that continually comes up is “shouldn’t prisons be harsh, so it’s a deterrent to committing crime?”

With this in mind, we thought we’d chat to director, Kavan Applegate the lead designer on Australia’s most innovative correctional projects, and Senior Architect and correction design specialist Paul Hayes to find out why their answer is a resounding “no”.

People are products of their environment

Kavan:

Our environment has a profound effect on us. It changes how we interact with others and how we view ourselves. Making an environment harsher will not help create a better person.

Every prisoner released will be interacting with society. So, my view starts with the foundational question of “what do we want those individuals to be like when they are back into the community, and what is the optimum environment to create the best citizens and neighbours?

The cycle needs to be broken

Kavan:

Good prison design must support prison operations to educate and rehabilitate prisoners so that they can create a better life. If life in prison is better than their life outside, it’s not because life inside is too good, but they need to be helped to make their life outside better than the life they have inside. A race to the bottom to make prisons worse than a drug and violence-filled life outside is counter-productive.

According to the Victorian Ombudsman 40% of all Victorian prisoners have been identified as having a mental health condition and prisoners are 10 to 15 times more likely to have a psychotic disorder than someone in the general community*. Prisoners are also often the victims of a violent upbringing, trauma and fetal alcohol syndrome. Creating a harsh environment won’t stop people with this background from committing crimes.

Prisoners are not committing crimes in a considered way of “If I do this, will I get away with it?” or “If I get caught then prison’s not so bad…” Research shows that crime is more driven from desperation, poor impulse control, or cognitive inability to make good decisions. Making a prison harsher doesn’t help that either.

Paul:

Over 1/3 of the prisoner population are homeless when they enter prison, and that percentage increases to 60-80% for people leaving prison. The comment “make the prison a nice place to be, at times often better than their home life and they’ll re-offend”, may be true in areas where homelessness is more prevalent, but this would be a sad state of affairs. Prison needs to be a place where rehabilitation can take place, and prisoners learn the skills, they need to make their outside life better.

Prisoners are not the only people within a correctional facility

Kavan:

What often gets forgotten is that staff have to work in these spaces. Imagine what it would be like as a staff member going inside every day into a harsh, lifeless facility where there’s an “us” and “them” mentality between staff and prisoners.

Plenty of research shows that this not only decreases mental health, it also increases staff suicide rates, heart disease, blood pressure and family breakdown. Some of the stories I’ve heard are gut-wrenching. On the other hand, when a rehabilitative approach is taken through the design and management of a correctional facility, the impact of change for staff when things are improved makes me teary for all the right reasons.

*Source: Victorian Ombudsman Investigation into the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners in Victoria 2015.

How COVID-19 has impacted commercial design

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes to the way we all work and operate. To explore these changes in more detail and look at how they will impact commercial design moving forward, we sat down with Senior Interior Designer, Gohta Shiraishi, to get his take on design in a post-COVID world.

How do you think the COVID-19 pandemic has changed commercial design?

Pre-COVID, the recent trend has been for many corporate organisations to consolidate their property portfolios and centralise their operations. Where previously they may have had several offices scattered around the metro area, many corporations have closed their scattered offices and moved their operations to large buildings in the CBD. They have been able to save real estate costs and operational costs with this consolidation with the added benefit of the prestige that CBD addresses bring.

But with the COVID-19 pandemic I think there will be a reversal of this mentality. Scattered offices in the outer urban areas provide a lot of potential benefits to their employees, mostly around commuting. In a post COVID world there will be more reluctance to use mass public transport and many workers will probably prefer closer workplaces that they can drive or better yet cycle to.

The ‘hub and spoke’ model will greatly facilitate this arrangement and help reduce the movement of people. This will be beneficial not only for future pandemics but also in easing the strain on our public transport system and road networks.

I believe the greatest change in commercial design will be driven by the collective workforce’s desire to have flexible working arrangements. We are likely to see fewer workstations on-site and more collaborative working spaces to support new working arrangements. There will be more digital connectivity to allow people to work from anywhere and potentially smaller office footprints with more sub-lease arrangements to streamline corporate property assets. 

How do you think the corporate world will respond to the new flexible model of working?

I believe that mixed working (home and in the office) is here to stay. The technology to be able to perform professional services work remotely has been around for quite some time; however, there has been a widespread reluctance to adopt it at such a broad scale. The COVID-19 paradigm has forced professional industries to adapt to a ‘working from home’ model and the last few months has proven that it can work just fine.

According to recent surveys conducted by WKspace based in the UK, most workers would prefer a mixed week of days in the office and days working from home in the post COVID world. Almost 50% of their respondents reported a preference for 2-3 days in the office.

From the same studies, 70% of respondents prefer to perform concentrated working from home, and a similar percentage at 65% prefer to perform collaborative work in the office. Interestingly there was only a slight majority at 54% that would prefer to conduct meetings in the office, and 68% prefer to socialise with colleagues in the office as well.

Based on these findings it’s easy to see a future where office spaces are geared up to be more like collaboration hubs for teams to come together, meet, discuss, delegate and then return home to complete their allotted tasks if suitable.

An interesting outcome of this co blend working environment of some people being at home and in the office is how video conferencing (VC) is being treated. Pre-COVID it was very typical to hold larger meetings in conference rooms with VC feeds to other conference rooms in other offices.

But with a potential mix of people being onsite or working from home, this presents some interesting challenges to that VC working arrangement. There is a fear of exclusion that comes about if there are only a few participants that are on VC with the rest of the participants being in person.

Therefore, it has become almost policy in some organisations where if one person is dialling in individually then everyone must dial in individually from their own PC/laptops, even if they are onsite. This creates a more level meeting environment and is a great equaliser.

Looking at our own organisation, Guymer Bailey, as an example, when we have VC meetings with our Brisbane and Melbourne colleagues we often dial in individually on our own devices, this way it is easier for an individual to be heard no matter where their location is.

I anticipate that there will be more demand for individual VC solutions, webcams, and headsets. There will also be a need for improved internet connectivity to facilitate such arrangements. When it comes to network infrastructure, I believe there will be an even greater transition to cloud-based networking solutions to mitigate the bottlenecking of office VPN connections and the like.

What about hot desks, are they a thing of the past now or here to stay?

It is likely that hot desks will become even more common. Sharing spaces may seem counterintuitive at first, but if you think about it, it is much easier to enforce a clean desk policy with a hot desk than it is with a dedicated workstation per person. Hot desks force people to be more mindful of what items they need to get their work done and avoid the build-up of the clutter.

This will make it possible for more thorough cleaning to be performed overnight and will be more hygienic, so long as a thorough and regular cleaning regime is in place. Also, dedicated workstations take up more real estate and it is likely that it will only be used half the time. So, I believe hot desks are more likely to become the norm, but with careful cleaning and sanitisation protocols. 

Are you finding projects are applying new design principles in response to COVID-19?

There have been several projects that are applying new design principles in response to COVID-19. Interestingly, most has been focused on immediate risk mitigation in the short and medium-term. So simple things like rearranging seating layouts to ensure social distancing and meeting the 4sqm per person density quotient.

Interestingly there is a collective expectation that there will be a return to normality, so long-term design planning has not been overly affected yet. In fact, some of our projects where we are performing COVID distancing modifications have funding contingencies to revert works back to a pre-COVID setting.

However, what we have seen is a greater priority put towards upgrading and future proofing ICT infrastructure to support remote working. Also, as the white-collar workforce transitions back to the office, we are already seeing staggered days of staff working onsite or from home to comply with distancing guidelines. As the world begins the road to recovery and as economic confidence returns, I believe it is likely that we will see the next revolution in office design come. I for one am very optimistic and excited about the future of commercial design.

About Gohta Shiraishi

Gohta Shiraishi has over 10 years’ experience in the retail and commercial interior design sectors. Having a background in Industrial Design, Gohta is highly focused on the human interface with the built environment and is passionate about creating well thought out design solutions that are as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing.

Considerations in special needs schools and autistic learning

By Pat Giles 

Going to Prep school when young can be a daunting thing. It may be your first time learning and playing outside of home, in a big new space surrounded by unfamiliar children and adults, and possibly the first time without a family member being there to give you comfort and feel safe.

These early memories form the foundation of your relationship with school, how you begin to socialise with others, and your motivation to be educated. They are the first steps in beginning a learning process that will be part of your life until early adulthood. It’s a pivotal moment that directly sets up your educational journey, the routine of school life, and the experiences that go with it.

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (or ASD), this experience is even more challenging. As a diagnosis in early ages, it can manifest in difficulties communicating, restrictive and repetitive behaviour, and other symptoms hurting a child’s capability to function properly in everyday life. 

These children need selective attention as they are more sensitive to social behaviours and stimulants than typical (or ‘neurotypical’) children. It is in response to this treatment that special needs schools - early learning facilities equipped to cater to children with ASD - are established. As designers, it is our fundamental responsibility to ensure the architecture surrounding these children facilitates this stage of their learning, and the experience itself builds a positive connection with school moving forward.

Independent Learning

The aim of designing early learning schools for children with ASD is establishing a supportive setting where students can achieve autonomy for the mainstream education system in the years beyond graduation. For this to work, schools need a curriculum and infrastructure in place for these students to develop natural skills in learning, problem-solving, and independent thinking before they transition into regular primary schools.

These skills are a coping mechanism for children with ASD, which enable students to grow in confidence as they learn. These are derived from seven design principles catered to Autistic sensitivities; Acoustics, Spatial Sequencing, Escape Spaces, Compartmentalisation, Transition spaces, Sensory zoning, and Safety.

Coping Skills - Generalisation

As a term, Generalisation refers to students with ASD having the ability to feel comfortable learning in a mainstream school without special assistance. It usually involves the process of a child understanding the daily routine of a school day, participating in activities with other students, and adapting to tasks that require independent learning, problem-solving, and social interaction.* Generalisation can range in difficulty for Autistic children but is a necessary issue that must be overcome for successful integration to mainstream schools. 

Pathway to Learning Concept: Children with ASD

The Greenhouse Effect

This term is a label for environments catered too specifically to children with ASD, or if activities in a mainstream school setting are too unrecognisable. Consequently, a child is unable to cope in this space due to an unfamiliarity with general classroom activities and the structure of mainstream learning. Under these scenarios, the value of a prep school can be lost as a student requires re-education, placing their performance behind the standard curriculum.**

There are no absolute design methods for determining when children with ASD revert to using coping skills and when they exert general behaviour. The educational approach should be a healthy balance of both patterns, with architectural design assisting spaces in ensuring the ability to learn independently. 

Spatial Design

There are a few distinctions made in Architectural design that cater to children with ASD. They differ to regular classrooms and teaching spaces in mainstream schools. Still, these differences are crucial to ensure children work in comfortable environments with minimal distraction that encourages mental development and guide the routines of everyday school life.

A recent working model with these traits was developed in Guymer Bailey’s design for Western Autistic School in Niddrie. This exercise was through consultation with Irabina Autistic Services and the ASPECTSS Design Index***, which are evidence-based guidelines that help build environments for children with ASD. The layout of a new teaching block on-site was structured to create safe, internal courtyard enclosures linked by classrooms, allowing for external stimuli to be removed or controlled in different areas. 

Classroom Learning

A standard teaching space was designed as a single or double-classroom module, intended as flexible-use learning areas for various year groups ensuring the space could accommodate several learning programs without the need to re-purpose the teaching environment. Classrooms contain six to eight children at a time, with up to four staff to maintain supervision and concentration.

Sensory rooms and student amenities are directly adjacent to the classrooms and act as escape spaces that are easily accessible from both sides. Natural light is maintained at focused levels to control diffusion and avoid visual distraction.  Windows are slimmed to obscure outdoor activity and reduce glare and are strategically placed around outdoor landscapes to prevent external attention. Internal glazing with observation points to monitor children’s behaviour by staff and parents. 

Most importantly, retreat space is provided for escape from over-stimulation in the classroom, where children can feel safe and protected. Gardens are directly accessible from class, individualised to each room, and dispersed with soft, natural materials, colours and scents. These natural areas provide physical refuge but feel safe and protective while remaining under close staff surveillance.

Standard classroom model - teaching blocks

Standard classroom model - section

ASD classroom model concepts and realised teaching block layout

Natural Play

Playgrounds and open spaces can be intimidating for children with ASD. This distress comes from the child’s stimuli, where large areas full of sights and sounds can bombard the senses and provoke uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.

Autistic children have a general tendency to find engagement in free play more actively and equivalently than neurotypical children. However, social participation itself can be a struggle and can lead to solitary behaviour in playgrounds and outdoor spaces. This struggle to socialise with other children over time can manifest in personal difficulties like developing motor skills, balance, coordination and self-awareness.

Landscape design of the Western Autistic School, Niddrie

Playspaces should be designed in ways where children recognise, separate and control their surroundings, and in doing so, organically learn when to participate in group activities, retreat quietly, and move outside their comfort zone. In tangible form, this can be facilitated through equipment to coach a child’s stability (low-level balancing beams and stepper courses), coordination (rope climbing and climbing posts) and cognitive movement (stepper courses and run patterns), to allow safe play and provide outlets for expendable energy. 

Outdoor teaching spaces should be designed to provide safe, informal class settings that develop children’s familiarity with natural shapes, textures, and scents. In early learning, this is particularly encouraged, as providing a variety of natural materials and planting elicits emotive responses, builds focus and creates a calm, comfortable connection to the environment.

In this respect, landscape spaces for children with ASD form extensions of the learning processes happening in the classroom, with an underlining theme of naturality; the natural development of a child learning to cope with a range of emotional, social and physical differences; and the ability to foster this growth in a natural setting.

Perspective

 What has fascinated me the most about designing for children with ASD is that the planning process challenges a standardised approach to educational environments, and in doing so, demonstrates that physical changes in these spaces lead to safer and more productive classrooms to learn and build confidence in. 

Working with special needs schools, it’s encouraging to know there is a sincere effort to channel this form of learning by the staff and the school communities. This enthusiasm motivates us as design professionals to ensure our creative approach translates into buildings and landscapes that support young minds on the Autism spectrum.

About the Author

Pat Giles is a registered Architect and a valued member of our educational design team in Melbourne. He has managed projects of varying scales across multiple sectors in both Western Australia and Victoria. He brings a creative attitude to projects and enjoys the tasks of managing school projects and working in partnership with multiple specialists.

* Promoting Generalisation of Positive Behaviour Change

* Designing Buildings for Children with Autism

***National Autistic Society, Designs for Living

Schools in the Future: An Architectural Perspective

In February I attended Learning Environments Australasia’s Afternoon with Stephen Harris, held at St Peters Lutheran College on Schools of the Future. Stephen is an educator and innovator, and the Co-Founder and Director of Our Dream School, Barcelona. Throughout the evening some progressive points were raised and I have been reflecting on them and what they mean for us as specialists in education design.

He opened with a problem, “the problem with education in Australia is that we do mediocre really well. Our current education system believes that examinations and assessments are the only way to judge a child's work.”

He used the bushfire crisis as an example. Some areas of Australia had year 12 students completing final exams in safety and air conditioned comfort, while others, at schools in bushfire paths that were surrounded by smoke and blaze and at risk of burning down. How are these two circumstances comparable in an exam scenario? How can we expect to compare the exam results from these two contrasting environments?

The answer is that we can’t. Perhaps the answer is that we begin to move past our current method of pedagogy, a faculty centred educational system founded in exam culture, towards one of heutagogy, a transformative system which teaches students how to learn and gain the competencies and skills they need for their selected field. 

The case of moving forward from pedagogy to heutagogy

Heutagogy was first defined in 2000 by Stewart Hase and Chris Kenyon as a form of self-determined learning, the benefit of the heutagogical approach is it teaches lifelong learning by allowing students to negotiate the learning process. 

In the traditional pedagogical style, the teacher is the lead and the primary source of knowledge, and they decide what the students will learn and how. In the heutagogical style, the teacher is the support or guide, that encourages students to determine a problem or area of lacking knowledge, reflect on the problem in-depth, determine actions to solve the problem and then lastly reflect on the path that was taken. 

The course design elements of heutagogy can include:

• Reflective journaling

• Action Research which allows learners to experiment with real-life situations

• Formative and summative assessment 

• Collaborative learning (Blaschke, 2012).

 McAuliffe, Hargreaves, Winter and Chadwick (2008) proposed the following principles of heutagogy:

• Knowing how to learn is a crucial skill

• Educators focus on the learning process rather than content

•  Learning goes beyond specific discipline

•  Learning occurs through self-chosen and self-directive action

This approach shifts focus to the process of learning rather than a means to an end. The learner is now at the centre of the learning process so we see high degrees of cognitive and meta-cognitive skills develop as a result, such as innovation, creativity and self-direction. 

In short, pedagogy is objective based and heutagogy is capability-based, shifting students towards a mindset of lifelong learning to improve their employability and career progression.

How architecture can support this shift in learning

Now that we understand the transformation to heutagogy, what does this mean for educational architecture and our roles as designers? What does this mean for the physical building fabric of our schools and how do we need to design our places of education to foster and facilitate this transformation? 

The physical environment of our schools is important because it either compliments or subtracts from the learning environment. Our school buildings control basic human requirements such as air-flow and sunlight, they provide space for individual or group work, shared work zones, connection between classrooms, indoor and outdoor teaching, the flexibility for changing technology, and so on. But is this enough?

Heutagogy indicates a need to shift away from teacher run classrooms and garden variety 60m2 30 kid 1 teacher general learning area towards something completely different. But what is that something different and how do we need to design our places of education to foster and facilitate this transformation? 

While I don’t profess to have the answer, my current thinking is that it needs to be a staged response. 

Stage 1 - The Classroom

The heutagogical approach acknowledges that knowing how to learn is a crucial life skill, so the focus needs to be on the learning process, not the content. This suggests the need to move away from the teacher being the head of the classroom and move towards an inward-facing zone-based layout. White boards and other usual learning focal points would be replaced by individual resources for each student to use in the design and navigation of their classroom tasks. Flexibility in the use of space exists to support the delivery of individual resources for students through open planning and flexible furniture. In this stage we begin to see connectivity, both connectivity between the classroom environment and outdoor environments, and also to other classrooms both physically and technologically. 

Stage 2 - The Block

Soon, the typical block layout will not be enough. Realistically, one teacher in a class of 20-30 students will not have the resources or capacity to oversee a personalised curriculum for each student. So in the second step of the transformation we look at the whole block, creating larger zones and a choice of learning opportunities through a flexible curriculum with different educators offering a range of workshops.  

We also start to see changes happening in the resources and spaces available to educators in order to support the students. The physical staff spaces change to facilitate collaboration and technology develops to allow linking in with external experts and educators. It is important to emphasise the change in the educators space as equally as important as the change in the learners space in order to facilitate the transformation.

Stage 3 - The School

The final step is an expansion of the methods laid out in step two, only on a larger scale. Here we say goodbye to year level grades and set buildings and home rooms, and move towards completely flexible and customised learning. 

Tests and examinations are a thing of the past as we create an environment where students of differing stages and abilities can learn in an environment that suits their learning needs, instead of conforming and compromising to fit within the box of the current pedagogical system. 

Educators are brought in as experts or linked in from abroad to offer specialised classes and every student is provided with a choice of curriculum with unique and personalised timetables. Dream school status is achieved, and we succeed in the transformation, creating a supportive and connected learning community.

By considering the school as a whole we lift the limits of the traditional ‘classroom’ and begin to encompass additional spaces into the learning environment such as natural landscape, neighboring bushland, the broader community in which the school campus lies. By considering the school as a whole, and not as a repetitive cluster of classrooms of the same type, we gain freedom to establish a wider variety of learning spaces for the benefit of both the student and educator. 

So imagine we have reached stage 3 and that the transformation was a success, the dream school has been realised and the path of the Australian education system has been changed forever. One problem still remains. What do we do with all these static old ‘school buildings’? The ones, that for one reason or another, were not transformed into dream school campuses.

As Stephen aptly pointed out, blocks of 60m2 classrooms will easily convert to retirement village apartments, resolving our nursing home crisis, housing our ever-growing population of aging Australians.

Essentially solving the problems of two sectors through one transformation.

About the Author

Grace Arezio is part of our Brisbane education design team and has taken a particular interest in helping schools achieve a healthier, productive and more sustainable school environment for students and staff.

Town Planner Q&A: How are local councils responding in light of the pandemic?

We're certainly living in interesting times. As a result of COVID-19, our new business-as-usual is, well, unusual, and there has, understandably, been both uncertainty and caution in the market when it comes to proceeding with projects.

To do a quick temperature check of the South East Queensland market, we spoke to Town Planner, Angus Green, Director of Place Design Group about his dealings with the local and state governments and what it means for development approvals moving forward.

Are you finding the local government is responding differently as a result of COVID-19?

The Queensland State Government and Councils are keen to encourage economic growth through the development industry and are building a pipeline of shovel ready projects.

How is this impacting Development Approvals?

We see this as an opportune time to be submitting development applications within South East Queensland. The Local Government elections are over, and the Councils are now out of caretaker mode. Brisbane City Council has announced their Civic Cabinet with Cr Krista Adams being appointed the Planning Chair. 

We are pleased to be already seeing complex DAs which were previously hitting roadblocks during their assessment, resolved with a more development facilitation focus.

Do you have any further guidance for those currently deciding whether to proceed or hold back on projects?

 Another consideration is the impending State Government election in October. For potentially controversial DA’s it may be prudent to proceed with the concept development and pre-DA stages now but hold off on the actual lodgement of the application until after this election period.

However, this would only be relevant for a very small percentage of projects. In most cases the current environment is a significant opportunity to obtain better development outcomes. 

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. 

COVID-19 Pandemic Policy and Response Plan

 During these unprecedented times, our commitment to providing clients with the best design outcome is unchanged. We are fully operational and continue to work to ensure our services are being delivered in line with client and industry expectations without compromising the broader impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our community. 

This policy outlines our continued commitment to clients and teams and how we will ensure business continuity and a safe environment for our team, clients and sub-consultants during this time. 

Work from home 

Early in the pandemic, Guymer Bailey provided employees with the ability to work from home to ensure their health and wellbeing and to do our part in helping to flatten the curve. 

Working remotely has always been part of our flexible work arrangements, so our ability to adapt to these changes company-wide has been both seamless and efficient. Our IT infrastructure enables our team members to have access to the software, resources and tools they need to work productively and communicate effectively with our clients and consultants to maintain our desired level of design excellence. 

Prioritise hygiene 

It has always been Guymer Bailey’s stance that if an employee is unwell, they are to stay home. Should an employee need to enter our studio or attend a client meeting or site meeting staff are advised to wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. To protect our team on-site, we do provide protective equipment, which now includes hand sanitiser and gloves. 

When we return to the studio, staff will be encouraged to clean their workstations regularly with disinfectant and avoid using other staff members’ workstations and personal items. 

Practice social distancing 

If indoors, there must be a minimum of four square metres per person. Those who are working in the office are encouraged to spread out to maintain social distancing. If outside, there must be a minimum of 1.5m between people. As per government advice, handshaking is to be avoided. 

Limit project meetings and site visits 

Project meetings will be addressed on a case-by-case basis in response to client or contractor requirements and the personal situation of our team members. Gatherings are to be limited in accordance with Government restrictions and should follow social distancing protocols. 

The safety and wellbeing of our team is our top priority. Staff are encouraged to conduct meetings using “non-contact” methods such as Zoom, Skype or Teams and only initiate face-to-face meetings if absolutely essential. Should a meeting be essential, but social distancing measures are not enforced or followed, our team have been instructed to leave for their wellbeing.

We have also made it clear to our team that if they are not comfortable in attending meetings and site visits at this time as they are concerned for their personal health or the health of vulnerable family members, we will fully support their decision not to attend.

Avoid travel

To protect our team and be in alignment with Government travel advice, we have directed our staff to avoid interstate travel unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, domestic travellers should refer to State Government websites for isolation requirements.

Seek support

Staff are encouraged to talk to their manager if they require support in any way. If additional support is needed, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available to all employees (casual, part-time and full-time) and their immediate family members.

Professional counselling and coaching are key services of AccessEAP, with access to support services available 24/7. Staff members and their immediate family members are entitled to five 1-hour counselling/coaching sessions each year. This service is confidential, and AccessEAP will not provide Guymer Bailey with the details of matters discussed.

In the event of a confirmed case within our studios

If there is a confirmed case within one of our studios, all people within close contact of the infected staff member in the 24 hours prior to the development of symptoms are to be identified and notified and are required to self-isolate immediately. The studio will be closed until a hospital-grade clean is completed. Staff who have not been in close contact with the confirmed case will be permitted to return once the office has been cleaned, and as a precautionary measure, all staff who have been in the studio in the previous week will be tested. If more than one case is confirmed the studio will be closed for 14 days.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, muscle pain and fatigue, if any team members are suffering from any of these, they will be required to call the COVID-19 24-hour hotline on 1800 675 398 or contact their GP or local emergency department to arrange testing and appropriate care.

As the situation continues to develop and new information comes to light, we may need to change our approach detailed within this policy. In this case, we will do so with careful consideration and open communication with our team. As we do work collaboratively with clients, we are open to adapting to other organisation's requirements during this time and welcome conversations accordingly. 

If you have any questions regarding Guymer Bailey's response to COVID-19, you are welcome to contact our directors, Kavan Applegate on (03) 8547 5000 or Phil Jackson on (07) 3870 9700.

At the forefront of rehabilitative design

As prisoner numbers in Australia continue to break records rising 40% since 2012*, greater focus is being placed on reducing recidivism rates among offenders. With more than 20 years in the design, documentation and construction of prisons, leading correctional architect Kavan Applegate, believes the key to minimising recidivism rates is in rehabilitative design.

As the lead design consultant on many of Australia’s most innovative correctional projects including the $200 million Hopkins Correctional Centre expansion and the multi-award winning $670 million Ravenhall Prison Project, Kavan Applegate knows how crucial architecture is in secure environments.

 “Our environment has a profound effect on us. It changes how we interact with others and how we view ourselves. It reasons, therefore, that 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 said.

He continues, “Research demonstrates that if prisoners feel safe, they are more likely to engage in rehabilitation and education programs. With this in mind, master planning of secure accommodation needs to create communities that are engaging, uplifting, and interactive, and also communicate a sense of safety and security.”

Ravenhall Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

Despite his strong passion for rehabilitative design, the Melbourne-based architect and director of multi-award winning architecture, landscape architecture and interior design practice, Guymer Bailey Architects, hasn’t always specialised in correctional architecture, in fact, getting into it was “by accident” he explains.

“I started to see the size and complexity of some of the correctional projects in the office and was keen to get involved. Once I started, I never escaped.”

While many people may wonder how design could have such a profound impact in the correctional environment, Kavan is resolved, to change behaviour, you must improve the environment. 

“As part of our design strategy for secure environments we create normalised environments as much as possible, so there is less institutionalisation, and the transition out of the prison system is easier. Increased access to daylight and external spaces, and minimising unnecessary auditory pollution are methods of decreasing stress levels and subconscious anxiety. They also enhance the likelihood of improved sleep, which is another key factor in improving physical and mental health.”

Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

He continues, “A calm physical environment is more likely to be a safe and secure environment. The removal of hiding spots through increased passive surveillance and clever planning solutions improve security and this, in turn, decreases user anxiety. Lighting solutions with optimal uniformity are more secure and help to create more pleasant spaces. We place a lot of emphasis on interfacing the design with the operational needs. And on this basis, a high-quality rehabilitative prison operating philosophy, combined with a rehabilitative design is the optimum framework for rehabilitative outcomes.”

According to Yvonne Jewkes, Professor of Criminology at the University of Kent’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, the main difference in Kavan’s approach is that he understands that good architecture is designing not for prisoners, but for people.

“Kavan is unusual, in my experience of prison architects, at least, in that his designs are underpinned by clinical and social scientific research evidence. Designing prisons to rehabilitate offenders is not easy, because of the systemic, structural and social disadvantages that most prisoners come from, and return to, on release from custody. Kavan understands this, but he also believes that prison design can make a profound difference to rehabilitative outcomes.”

She continues, “In part, it is about making practical decisions concerning where to situate key workers like prison officers, psychologists and teachers in relation to prisoners, how many workshops and classrooms are required, how prisoner movement can be facilitated to allow a degree of autonomy and choice, and so on. But these things are also about treating prisoners with decency, dignity and respect to help them on their rehabilitative journey.”

Hopkins Correctional Centre. Photography by Scott Burrows Photography.

According to Kavan, there will be a more significant push towards rehabilitative design in corrections as the government continues to combat rising prisoner numbers moving forward.

"We have seen notable changes in Australian correctional architecture, and many of these are State-based. Design in some States is definitely moving toward a more rehabilitative approach, especially influenced by Public Private Partnership (PPP) prison projects. The aim for ‘normalisation’ of correctional architecture has had a lot of traction, and in the future I believe this will significantly increase, drawing from contemporary education, university accommodation, and specialised health and mental health typologies."

He continues, "Counter to this, there has been a significant increase in the number of remand prisoners throughout Australia, which has required additional accommodation to be quickly put to market, often within existing secure facilities. This increase in bed numbers within an existing secure perimeter often results in more segregation of prisoner cohorts to manage prisoner movements and congregations. It is then incumbent on the skills of correctional architects to do all possible to retain or enhance the rehabilitative focus in even more contained and intense environments."

Statistic source: *Corrective Services, Australia, June quarter 2018, Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4512.0

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.