Civic Building:
Early Childhood Development
Sector
Educational
Location
Peri-Urban, KZN
Year
2025
Design Lead
SC & MM
Client
Public Organization
Siphilakahle Early Childhood Development Centre was designed for a local church and is intended to serve the surrounding community. The spaces are arranged as separate forms, drawing inspiration from izindlu in the spatial planning of traditional Zulu homesteads.
The use of materiality is context-sensitive, prioritizing low maintenance and durability. This approach ensures sustained quality over time, which is essential given the development’s role as a public facility with continuous use.
The interior spaces are informed by principles of child pedagogy and biophilic design, aiming to create nurturing environments that support child development and provide safe, comforting spaces for children.
This is reflected in the strong indoor–outdoor relationship of the spaces, which promotes a connection with nature and provides environments of serenity and transparency.
The spaces also prioritize child-scaled furniture and circulation, reinforcing an environment that is responsive to the physical and developmental needs of children.
