The New Rest Valley Crèche
In a project passionate about uplifting the youth of Riebeek-Kasteel, The MAAK’s vision found them in the area of New Rest Valley. As an addition to their outputs, which range from full-scale public buildings to experimental spatial enquiries, this endeavour to design a crèche redefined the idea of collaboration in architecture. Just in time for Youth Month, The MAAK takes us through the journey of building a valuable social corridor for this young community in the form of the New Rest Valley Crèche.
Constructed in 2023, the New Rest Valley Crèche is the first completed formal public infrastructure in New Rest Valley. A proud new educational facility, the crèche stands alongside a public park, well-located as it forms an important part of what is set to become a valuable space for this young community. The initiative was launched by Vuya Foundation and Rotary Club of Newlands, and when handed to The MAAK, was taken on a unique and carefully considered journey.
Design in dialogue
‘The New Rest Valley Crèche was one of our most collaborative design processes yet. Not so much in a multi-disciplinary sense (like a lot of other work in our portfolio), but more in terms of finding new ways to collaborate within the scope of the typical architectural streams and stakeholders. This included working very closely with the contractor, material suppliers, and members of the community to design and build something really special. It is a process we have been calling “design in dialogue”.
Architects are typically obsessed with total control. We see this as a problematic part of our industry. Giving up or sharing agency with the rest of the project team (community members included) is an important part of how we work and a big reason for some of our biggest project successes. One of the more notable examples of this in the New Rest Valley Crèche scheme was a full-scale play day with children in the neighbourhood. With the help of leaders in the community, we facilitated a games workshop with around 30-40 kids, where they taught us their favourite games and ways to have fun. These games were drawn into the street adjacent to the building during construction and are now detailed into the rubber play surface of the crèche’s courtyard play area.
Without this collaborative insight from the kids, the project would have been less meaningful or suited to the eventual users of the space. When thinking back on this project, this is one of the design moments that make us smile.’ – Max Melvill
A landmark of pride
Beyond the creative collaboration that makes this project so special, the architecture is critical in achieving its goals. The completed project includes three fitted classrooms (catering for ±90 children), a covered playground area, kitchen, reception area, admin office, ablutions, suitable storage, and a caretaker’s flat. Standing tall above a setting of one-storey self-built homes, the facility is a landmark feature in the area and offers valuable civic pride for the community.
The design is easily defined by its over-sailing saw-tooth roof. The dynamic roof element rises towards the South, creating a brightness in the atmosphere by allowing soft light to fill the classrooms. As a playful integration of nature, tall Wild Pear trees grow through punctures in a roof above the outdoor area, which help to keep the covered playground shaded and cool. An intricate breeze block wall then lines the North edge of the building and neatly separates the scheme’s playground from a parallel street. To the East, the space opens to the neighbourhood with a comfortably covered entrance patio and wraparound public bench.
An envelope of security
With the building’s footprint maximised, the architectural envelope becomes more than just a skin or wall; it is the project’s security boundary, its front door, and the means through which the architecture is integrated into its neighbouring context. Colour is carefully used throughout the scheme to further foster a fun and child-friendly atmosphere that helps breathe life into the surroundings.
As an expectation-exceeding contribution to the upliftment of communities, the New Valley Rest Crèche is an inspiration to the local industry. The space is more than a structure. It is a realm of hope and opportunity offered in service to one of many communities in need.
Photography by Kent Andreasen
This article is an extract from our June Issue. Read the full issue here.
