MCA worked with the Victorian School Building Authority to deliver a new learning kitchen at Hurstbridge Primary School. 

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The school is located in Hurstbridge on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country.

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The project consisted of repurposing two existing classrooms into a new kitchen for teaching the Stephanie Alexander School Kitchen Program with a connection to a large outdoor learning space. Two additional classrooms were also repurposed as a teacher’s resource and conference space. 

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The design of the kitchen classroom focuses on a central bench with stoves, ovens and a preparation space for the instruction process. Individual benches with sinks and storage underneath wrap around the perimeter to support group work.  A new opening was created between two classrooms to link the kitchen with an adjacent dining/learning space. The design included capacity for this space in future to be developed into a café, with the intent it will be run by the school, in coordination with the local secondary school, introducing students to hospitality. 

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The design needed to be highly functional and durable, managing groups of up to 20 children at a time in a kitchen environment. At the same time, the school's bush surroundings provided inspiration for the material palette.

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Country: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung 

Client: Victorian School Building Authority

Builder: Ascot Group

Consultants: North (quantity surveying), Sampson Wong Associates (building surveying), David Novak Group (structural, civil), JBA (hydraulic, mechanical, electrical)

Photography: MCA