Hi! I'm Ashlie! I'm currently doing Master of Architecture, and I'm in the CPU[AI] atelier. What draws me most to architecture is its dynamic nature and the ability to shape experiences through innovative tectonics.

For this project, I’m eager to explore the creative use of natural materials to curate a diverse, nature-focused environment where children can learn and have fun. It would be interesting to test out how we could incorporate immersive and dynamic experiences into our designs.

I hope to bring creative design ideas to the project and apply my skills in modelling and rendering to form a compelling case for our proposals. Looking forward to collaborating with the team and seeing what we could create together!

Day 01: A fun-filled start to our 2-week project!

Today we welcomed some BA and MLA students to join us on this journey. Upon a warm round of self-introductions, we presented our project brief, introduced our collaborator and the site, and gave an overview of our plans for the 2 weeks. This was followed by an insightful presentation by Lou on the value of forest school, which gave the team a better understanding of how it benefits young children.

To bring playful energy into the day, we headed over to Whitworth Park for some nostalgic sports day fun, including mini races and a few rounds of charades!

In the afternoon, we gathered to brainstorm ideas for different components that could be included in our forest school proposals, with much consideration given to using sustainable materials and creating sensory experiences tailored to children. Based on our discussions, we wrapped up our first day by expressing our initial concepts through collages and sketches. A great start to the week!

Day 02: Site models

While some of us were at Burnside for a woodland workshop with the kids, the rest of us worked together to build site models.

Day 02: Reflecting on the workshop

After lunch, the two groups gathered to discuss findings from the visit to Burnside.

Regarding site context, we noticed that the vegetation cover has become much denser since winter, which prompted a discussion on how we might accommodate and celebrate it.

The workshop with the kids gave us plenty of new ideas to develop upon. We began translating their imaginative crafts and drawings into actual components within the site, bringing their perspective into our design process.

Day 03: The start of the two proposals!

The group was divided into two, each focusing on a distinct theme to explore different possibilities for the forest school space.

One team is developing a proposal centred around education. This includes looking into activities and equipment that supports sensory development, creativity, practical life skills, and physical development of kids, drawing on the core values of forest school learning.

The second team is focusing on fun & play, aiming to create a stimulating environment that engages all the senses. This proposal shall prioritize imaginative, interactive spaces where kids can explore freely and enjoy rich, sensory-driven play experiences, strongly responding to our observations from the interaction with kids in the forest model making session.

The education group wrote out a list of components and mapped them on the site based on the location of entrances, existing features, and proposed zoning. This process helped clarify the flow of movement through the site and ensured each element would serve its intended function while supporting a cohesive educational experience for the children.

The fun & play group strategically arranged elements on the site, thinking carefully about how to create a flow of playful discovery. The result is a design approach that prioritizes sensory-rich, imaginative experiences across different zones of the space.

Day 04: Refining ideas and preparation for a presentation to our collaborator

Both groups spent the day refining their proposals, clarifying key design ideas, and thinking more critically about how each element contributes to the overall experience.

We also began preparing materials for our interim presentation to our collaborator, which will be an important opportunity to gather feedback and strengthen our direction moving forward.

Day 05: Presentation day!

The team made our way to Burnside Centre to present our initial ideas and design proposals. It was a great moment to share all the hard work we've put in over the past week. Our collaborators were thrilled to see our progress and offered valuable feedback to help refine the proposals further and better align them with their needs. They highlighted specific components they loved, such as the communication wall for non-verbal kids and the set of numbered wooden stepping stones. They also gave us ideas on further developing some of our proposed components.

Following the presentation, a discussion with our collaborator reached a decision that moving forward, we will focus on developing one proposal. We will integrate the strongest ideas from both proposals, blending their best features to create a single, well-rounded design.

Day 05: Reflection

The team gathered to reflect on the notes from Burnside. While the discussions were still fresh in our minds, we began drafting a revised site plan that responds to the suggestions and ideas shared.

It was a productive end to the week, and we’re heading into Week 2 with clear direction and a shared excitement to bring our final proposal to life!

It was cool to see our project poster displayed at the reception of Burnside centre!

Day 06: Kicking off week 2 with some physical model making

Based on the draft plan we developed on Friday, combining our initial proposals from Week 1, we built a 1:100 physical model to help us better visualize the overall spatial arrangement and flow. Along with this, a revised site plan was drawn up in CAD. With this updated plan in hand, we began construction on our final 1:50 physical model which will represent our ultimate proposal for the forest school at Burnside.

Day 07: Physical model making continues

Today was all about continuing work on our 1:50 physical model. With most of the key elements now taking shape, we’re more than halfway through the build!

Despite the small scale, the team focused on adding as much detail as possible to communicate our design vision, spot the little ducks in the pond! It’s exciting to see the project come to life in physical form!

Day 08: Finishing touches!

Our 1:50 physical model is almost complete! Nearly all the components of our final proposal have been assembled, and we added some color to key elements to reflect our vision of a fun, vibrant space for children. The final piece to be added is the mound at the corner of the site, which we've chosen to 3D print for more precision. There was a little mishap with the 3D printer today, but it's back on track and our model should be ready by tomorrow, we can't wait to see it in place!

While our physical models are nearing completion, our digital model is also progressing well. We're on track to begin rendering and visualizing the design tomorrow. Exciting day ahead as we pull everything together!

Day 09: Workshops and preparation of final presentation

This morning, our MA students led a workshop session, sharing their workflows for creating diagrams and rendering using Rhino, Illustrator and Photoshop. It was a great exchange of skills, with all students learning and taking inspiration from one another.

Armed with new techniques, the team spent the afternoon producing final drawings to clearly communicate the ideas behind our final proposal. From detailed plans to expressive visuals, everyone contributed to refining how we present our design.

It's the final stretch!

Day 09: Physical model complete!

The 3D printing went smoothly, and the final piece is now in place. We will be bringing the model over to Burnside for the presentation tomorrow, we hope our collaborators love it as much as we do!

Day 10: FINAL PRESENTATION!!

Today marked the grand finale of our 2-week project! We returned to Burnside Centre to present our final proposal. We were joined by the directors of Burnside who were all really pleased with the outcome. Their positive feedback and enthusiasm for the project was really rewarding for us. With the fundings secured, we’re excited to see how our ideas will take shape and begin to make an impact for the community.