… With nature-based solutions to unlock Botha’s Halte’s latent potential, ensuring that it continues to be relevant and add maximum value into the future…
Faced with limited prefabricated classrooms, harsh winds and temperatures, Botha’s Halte regional school fought an uphill battle to create a supportive learning environment. However, with generous funding from Bosjes Estate and a brief that demanded innovative environmental initiatives, we were able to design a welcoming and inspiring haven for learners.
So, what sort of campus design strategies achieve this at Botha’s Halte?
1) Rethinking site water management creates a welcoming and resilient statement at the school entrance. While creating new microclimates, habitats, and outdoor laboratories, the water is harvested for ablutions and irrigation of the grounds.
2) Accessible green roofs insulate the buildings from the extreme temperatures in the valley. They include a wide range of indigenous species promoting a sensory learning experience.
3) The sunken play areas provide shelter from the winds with exciting and challenging terrain for active play. Tailored for all ages and capabilities, and chosen to promote physical and cognitive development for individuals as well as social interaction between groups.
4) The vegetable gardens and orchards provide learning opportunities and food for lunches and produce for the adjacent wine farm restaurants.
5) Locally endangered vegetation is rehabilitated and celebrated as part of the natural heritage and identity of the community while minimizing the school’s environmental footprint.
The result – Nature based solutions for leading learning environments
Botha’s Halte is a world-class school that stands out from the rest by working with nature to create a multifunctional play and learning experience. By incorporating the best practice principles for resilient design, the landscape has become a fun and creative learning environment that the students, teachers and community can celebrate.
An integrated outdoor play environment was created to cater for a range of ages and capability levels, focusing on tactile and natural play.
Rockeries, sand pits and natural materials were incorporated to create an interactive environment to allow natural expression and learning through play.
