Barely recognisable from its former state, the Magill Road frontage of St Joseph’s School Tranmere has been transformed from an unsafe hardscape into a child’s natural wonderland. As a first priority of the school’s masterplan, drop-off traffic has been separated from the former play courts to make way for soft landscaping. The morning rush has also been eased through the widening of a dark breezeway into a free-flowing pedestrian entrance through to the centre of the campus, aided by improved wayfinding.
 

A shade structure and planters with integrated seating offer a sheltered break space, blurring the lines between outside and inside the adjacent hall. The underutilised Parish Hall now contains dedicated contemporary OSHC facilities and church meeting rooms, along with central flexible-use space, kitchen and amenities shared by the school, OSHC and Parish. The local heritage listed building has had unsympathetic additions removed to reinstate original style windows and exposed truss ceiling.

The dramatically improved streetfront has restored a sense of community identity and pride. Before it was even completed, the school reported an influx of enrolment enquiries, safeguarding the school’s future.

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PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Catholic Education SA

Location: Tranmere, SA

Kaurna Country

Value: $1.8M

Completion: 2022

Team

Dimitty Andersen

Elizabeth Little

Kimberley Harbison

Garth Davos

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Awards

AILA (SA) 2023 Landscape Architecture Award for Health & Education Landscape (Wax Design)

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