The Gingana Gumbaynggirr Freedom School (GGFS) is an independent school located in Gumbaynggirr Country near the CBD of Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast of NSW. It is a culturally immersive language school, the only one of its kind in NSW. The Glenreagh street site is located on a wedge shaped land parcel that runs from Harbour Dive, on its’ narrow southern boundary down to Coffs Creek reserve which forms the northern boundary. This is the old Coffs Harbour TAFE site, who have now relocated to their new site to the south of the city and we were briefed to create a masterplan for the school and community facilities to occupy the entire site.

The site sits between two landscape spurs, a softly undulating landscape, carved over time by the flow of water. At the elbow, the curve of the passing creek. The soft edges of the water moving through the filter of wetlands. The curve of the surrounding mountains of Coffs Harbour are reflected in this form and drawn in. The balance between landscape, ecology and building form is linked and seen as one. Circles combining both built form and landscape space. The focus is on connecting the natural environment to every single room and passage through the site, thus a narrow built form. The curved embrace allows togetherness, an inward focus, though also allowing for openness into the landscape. Every module expanding into the landscape. Terrace steps and platforms to encourage learning from nature itself.

The brief developed into 3 components - each being distinct elements. This enables the school, community hub (mixed used facilities) and preschool to jointly inhabit this beautiful elongated site.