Brighton Street Early Learning Centre by Danielle Brustman

Melbourne designer Danielle Brustman has transformed a repurposed Brutalist building in inner-city Melbourne into an early education centre. The project brief invited bold use of colour and shapes – in fact, 47 interior paint colours were used. The centre exhibits a handmade and natural feel, with each playroom having its own motif, such as the “river” room, the “meadow” room, the “forest” room and the “cloud” room. These themes helped decide the narrative, palette and treatment for each space. Graphic wall murals, hand-painted by Ben Maitland, are made up of block shapes. Durable materials, such as Marmoleum flooring and Tretford rugs, were chosen for the high-traffic space. “Children are so imaginative and less inhibited than we adults. It made complete sense to me that these spaces ought be filled with both stimulating and inspiring visuals. I wanted to push the colour palette to its limits, I wanted it to be complex and colourful whilst still adhering to a level of sophistication, gentleness and balance,” says Brustman. “Colours and materials that are often used in education can be a bit crude and institutional. I wanted to completely break away from that model and present child-friendly spaces that felt more personalized and fun to be in.”

Photography — Sean Fennessy

Danielle Brustman — daniellebrustman.com