Wild and Love embodies the philosophies of its owners – located in the heart of the community it serves, surrounded by their new homes, it is a home away from home.

The centre provides safe and nurturing spaces for up to 80 children, including a separate yoga and art studio, as well as classroom spaces. Orientated to maximise natural daylight, the childcare centre incorporates extensive floor to ceiling sliding doors and windows and roof canopy, which together allow for passive heating and cooling strategies as well as natural ventilation and fully daylit classrooms. Visual connectivity to the outdoors further enhances the child’s indoor learning experience.

Outdoors, the centre has a large naturally designed playground to which the classrooms all open onto through large sliding doors. Features of the playground include a natural stream and shower for water and more muddy play, a large natural sandpit and trees to provide shade. The edges of the playground then integrate into a large reserve where the children can go on excursions with their teachers.

Other sustainable and wellbeing features include the carpark acting as a rain soak; LED lighting and materials have been responsibly sourced and feature eco-label certification or low or zero VOC/formaldehyde.

Facts + Figures

Client: Wild and Love Early Learning Village
and CPMC Ltd
Location: Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand

Construction cost: Confidential
Area: 440m²
Programme: Completed 2021

Project Team: Phil Smith, Yolande Kromhout, Nathalie Samuelian, Zena Gerrard, Akash Kumar

Construction: R&B Builders
Interior Design: Collingridge and Smith

Image Credit: Mark Scowen