We are delighted to share that our Infant and Toddler Centre at Hobsonville Point has received a Gold Award at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards and an Auckland Architecture Award (Education) by the New Zealand Institute of Architects in recognition of excellence in design, workmanship, construction practices, and innovation.
Bear Park Hobsonville first opened in 2019 in the Mill House, which is a well-known heritage landmark that we restored and converted into a childcare centre. The site is set in the middle of a public park (with established trees and native birds) and next to the popular Te Ara Manawa coastal walkway.
The new Infant and Toddler centre is a contemporary extension to the Mill House. It complements and enhances the heritage building and provides excellent learning spaces for our children and teachers.
A word from our architect Matt Davy:
“Our journey with this project began with an historic 1930s building known as the Mill House, designed by George Tole as the home of aviation pioneers Doug and Audrey Mills. Inserting a contemporary building into this environment was a challenge but one we approached by drawing inspiration from the site’s aeronautical heritage and using the new building’s form to echo the spirit of flight. We are very grateful to our clients, Bear Park, for their vision and commitment to creating a learning centre that not only honors the past but also embraces the future”.
“This elegant pavilion among the trees is a counterpoint to the adjacent historic house, which together accommodate the childcare centre. While not referencing the former Mill House, it is a respectful juxtaposition that sits lightly in the grounds bordering Te Ara Manawa coastal walk, under a protected liquidambar tree. With its deep verandahs, flush thresholds and transparency, this glazed shelter responds to the centre’s pedagogical philosophy of embracing nature by using tactile experiences and outdoor play for learning.” – NZIA judges.
We were fortunate to have many of the same design and construction partners from our Stage 1 restoration project involved in the Stage 2 new building project. This included DPA Architects, All Season Builders, and McGhie Plumbing. We would like to thank them all for helping create our new childcare centre and these awards are great recognition of their high quality work.
If you would like to learn more about our Bear Park early childcare centre, we encourage you to take a tour of our Hobsonville Centre.
