Soft Loud House Architects have created a wide range of inspiring Rudolf Steiner School buildings, from classrooms to community shared spaces, that sensitively support people in a learning environment. We have also prepared numerous school campus master plans, creating harmony between the landscape, buildings and open spaces, and the requirements of the curriculum.
Over many years managing the funding and reporting process for school projects, we have developed a strong relationship with the Block Grants Authority, and have a thorough understanding of the funding, regulatory and design requirements within the education sector.
"Our School has worked with Alvyn since 2005. In that time we have constructed 3 new classrooms, extended our hall and built a garden centre and storeroom. We have also developed the School’s masterplan. There are many reasons why we have again chosen Alvyn for our next project of 3 more classrooms starting in 2009.
Alvyn is very easy to work with, both for our School building committee and with the builders and tradespeople on site. He has a good balance between being clear and, at times, insistent in what he wants, yet flexible enough to accommodate the realities of the project. His knowledge of positive environmental principles is exceptional, and sits well with the ethics of our School Community. And, of course, the designs themselves look good, work well and fit together with the existing School environment. Further, the buildings so far have been reasonably on time and on budget.
For anyone wanting interesting, environmentally sound buildings that are good to be in, with a minimum of complicating issues, I can highly recommend Alvyn and his people at Soft Loud House."
Richard Merton
Bursar, Mansfield Rudolf Steiner School & Kindergarten
"It has been a pleasure and an education working with you throughout this process. I admire the way you manage to be inclusive of so many points of view and then come up with a creative solution to balance such a range of interests.
I also respect your commitment to the passive energy design of buildings, the long term view of both financial and environmental costs with building, respect for the culture of the school and its existing social capital, and consciousness not only of recycling opportunities but also planning for recycling.
None of this loses sight of the needs of the end users. Our new Upper School buildings are a pleasure to work in and are frequently remarked on by visitors to the school.
I look forward to a long association and getting started on the next building project."
Jim Taylor
Business Manager, Little Yarra Steiner School
Little Yarra Steiner School classes 9/10 and high school
faculty room
An organic group of classroom and administrative buildings, built using timbercrete blocks and radial sawn timber cladding, threaded between ancient eucalypts and the undulating contours of this rural school landscape. Completed 2008.
Little Yarra Steiner School masterplan
A complex and thorough masterplan was developed, taking into account the 21 year history of the school, and mapping out a new direction towards balancing sustainability, education, vitality and creative freedom for this maturing cultural institution, within the restrictions of the Green wedge zoning of the site. Masterplan completed 2008.
Little Yarra Steiner School music hall and technology classrooms
These buildings, built by Little Yarra using local labour were constructed to a restricted budget and timeframe. The buildings are a series of simple forms, with a variety of recycled and low cost claddings reflecting the rural site and artistic skills of the school community. Completed 2007.
Mansfield Steiner School Merton Hall Extension
This project involved the renovation of Merton Hall to create a music and drama facility. It required a practical and simple addition balanced with sensitivity to the graceful but rickety 100 year old hall.
The Blackwood shaded verandah at the west was added to provide a sheltered access and waiting area to the cello and violin practice rooms. The form and detailing of this verandah relates this building to the angled forms of the newer school classrooms.
This project was constructed by David Kynnersley, and completed in 2006.
Photographer: Ben Wrigley
Mansfield Steiner School stage 3
The first of many projects for the Mansfield Steiner School, this project revisited the earthy beginnings of the school at Maindample, and developed the school’s design palette of earth, corrugated iron and natural timber.
The spaces comprised two classrooms, an art room and a sweeping south-facing verandah, sheltering the students from the harsh summer climate and icy winter rains. The verandah was conceived as a single sweeping arc, generously protecting the eroded rammed earth wall of the existing building.
A number of artists were invited to collaborate on the project, creating delightful ceramics, corrugated iron and stained glass elements to enliven the building which was completed by builder David Kynnersley in 2005.
Photographer: Ben Wrigley
Other School Projects
- Mansfield Steiner School stage 5 classrooms; Science, cooking and industrial arts classroom, and two primary school classrooms to be constructed 2008/2009.
- Little Yarra Steiner School classrooms 6,7,8 and primary school faculty centre; concept design 2008.
- Mansfield Steiner School garden and sports pavilions; completed 2008.
- Dandenong Ranges Steiner School stage 2 classrooms; two solar-powered, timbercrete and timber primary school classrooms and associated admin and amenities, under construction 2008.
- Mansfield Steiner School masterplan completed 2007.
- Freshwater Creek Steiner School Kindergarten; alterations and additions to portable classrooms for use as kindergarten, completed January 2005.
- Dandenong Ranges Steiner School Masterplan and Stage 1 alterations; completed 2004.
- Freshwater Creek Steiner School Masterplan and Stage 1; relocation of portable classrooms and amenities, completed January 2004.
- Freshwater Creek Steiner School Stage 2; new classroom, administration and amenities buildings, completed December 2004.
- Little Yarra Steiner School Classrooms 11/12, completed September 2003.
