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LATEST NEWS: Little Earth Montessori is runner up in the national Sustainability Award.
On 09/09/09, her worship Jenny Rowan, Mayor of Kapiti, opened Little Earth, assisted by our foundation children.
We are very excited to share with you the construction of Little Earth Montessori Kapiti, a new Montessori enviro preschool in Paraparaumu.
Our new preschool is one of its kind, a green building, designed following sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by Don Jamieson Architecture Ltd who has many years experience in the fields of education and green building.
Little Earth Montessori Kapiti is build from natural materials and non-toxic finishes where possible. It has been designed to incorporate passive solar heating and natural ventilation. Rain water is harvested and used for flushing toilets and gardening. The building also features rammed earth walls, double glazing, eaves, heat pump, low voc materials and natural products like wool insulation, and untreated macrocarpa timber.
The outdoor environment caters as an outdoor classroom, it is this place where they develop a relationship with the natural world, where they create their childhood memories. Little Earth Montessori Kapiti will have the outdoors integrated with the indoor classroom with one sense of place and identity. By using local elements, the children receive a first hand feel of their local natural environment. There will be limited room for asphalt, rubber, steel, concrete or plastic. Our outdoor environment will be a natural living landscape with natural discovery spaces, an organic garden and spaces set aside for the development of natural habitats.
Weekly updates of the construction phase (March-September 2009) are posted below.
Week 28: Monday 7 September 2009
Ko te whenua te wai uu moo ngaa uri whakatipu. The land provides the sustenance for the coming generation. Haere Mai, Tamariki. Welcome to our children.
Week 27: Monday 31 August 2009
The first opening of Little Earth. The 31st of August marks the birthday of Maria Montessori. It also marks the day we passed the Ministry of Education licensing process. But most importantly, today, just before sunset, local Iwi led a Whakenoa and performed a Karanga, a calling to the land and ancestors, and a calling for the safety of the children and teachers, making our building Noa, making Little Earth a safe, warm and comfortable place for our children and whanau. We feel blessed and honoured.
Week 26: Friday 28 August 2009
We are nearly there. The flag marks the spot for our peace pole.
Week 25: Wednesday 19 August 2009
The road is lined with cars from trades people. Floors are being layed, walls are being painted, lights are getting installed, kitchens are being put in, and lots more.
Week 24: Sunday 16 August 2009
And this is what it looks like. This is only the start of a work in progress, our natural outdoor environment, with planting, gardens and animals to follow.
Week 23: Friday 7 August 2009
Time to go outside. The safety fences are going up and the driftwood is put in place.
Week 22: Sunday 2 August 2009
Can you see the progress? This is the view from the end of the back corridor where the resource rooms are located.
Week 21: Sunday 26 July 2009
Lining and plastering has started.
Week 20: Sunday 19 July 2009
Frontview, most windows and doors are in.
Week 19: Sunday 12 July 2009
Work inside is in full swing, electricity, plumbing, security, and heating is all being worked on.
Week 18: Sunday 5 July 2009
Wool battens, waiting for placement in walls and ceilings for insulation. We will be warm and cozy!
Week 17: Sunday 28 June 2009
Windows are being placed and the deck roofing is now on.
Week 16: Sunday 21 June 2009
Can you LOVE a wall? You can if it is ALIVE! Our earth walls are up. Now they need drying.
Week 16: Wednesday 17 June 2009
Time for a shout. The roof is on!
Week 15: Friday 12 June 2009
The cedar cladding around the back of the building is marking the start of the closing in.
Week 14: Wednesday 3 June 2009
Most of the roofing framing is now up. The construction at the front are the outdoor decks. They are crucial for our in/outdoor flow and for integrating the outdoors with the indoor classroom with one sense of place and identity.
Week 13: Friday 30 May 2009
Construction of the rammed earth wall is in full swing!
Week 12: Wednesday 20 May 2009
A jungle gym and still more frames to go up!
Week 11: Saturday 16 May 2009
No time being wasted here! The back of the building includes all the resource rooms; an office, a staff room, bathrooms, laundry, and storage rooms. Can you see the curved wall?
Week 10: Wednesday 6 May 2009
Yeah, we are finally out of the ground! The first set of frames is being of-loaded.
Week 9: Sunday 3 May 2009
This pipework is the underfloor heating which is now attached to the mesh. Underneath the mesh you can see the polystyrene insulation. Concrete will be poured over next. We will be comfortable all year round!
Week 8: Wednesday 22 April 2009
Foundations have been poured. Polystyrene sheeting has arrived for underfloor insulation.
Week 7: Sunday 19 April 2009
All reinforcing and boxing is now in place. Ready for the first pour of concrete.
Week 6: Wednesday 8 April 2009
Hooray, the shed is taking shape. The shed will home our gardening tools, aswell as all all the animal food, strawbales and haybales and other "farm" items we are going to need.
Week 5: Monday 30 March 2009
A special Maori ceremony took place on Monday. Representatives from our local iwi blessed our site with songs, prayers and the sprinkle of holy water. In keeping with Maori custom, blessed rocks were buried near the main entrance of the building.
Week 4: Sunday 29 March 2009
Waste pipes have been placed. Sand and plastic sheeting going down prior to conrete pour.
Week 3: Sunday 22 March 2009
It is starting to take shape! Preparation for foundation. Rooms are now visible.
Week 2: Sunday 15 March 2009
Wondering what the pile of dirt is all about? This huge pile of earth is simply waiting to be re-used in a couple of weeks time. Rather then moving our beautiful natural earth off-site, we are using the earth to build internal rammed earth walls.
Week 2: Wednesday 11 March 2009
Digging out the building perimeter foundation.
Week 1: Sunday 8 March 2009
The water tank has been placed. We are now digging to lay the drains.
Week 1: Wednesday 4 March 2009
Connar Mudgway, nearly 4 years old, was more then happy to lend a hand today for the first dig! Connar continued to move dirt until the young builder-to-be ran out of steam. We are on our way!
