Institute of Educational Administration
An educational bush retreat in the heart of Geelong, blending learning, landscape, and architecture.
Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Masterplanning
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Landscape
- Sustainability
A legacy project by McGlashan Everist.
The Institute for Education Administration (IEA) was conceived as an educational bush retreat within an urban setting, providing a place for teaching, study, intellectual exchange, recreation, and residence. The design creates a calm and contemplative environment, where generous, volumetric spaces are arranged around a central landscaped courtyard, fostering connection and engagement across the site.
A restrained palette of materials complements the natural setting, while native plantings and a billabong thoughtfully recreate the indigenous landscape, reinforcing a sense of place and connection to the local ecology.
Originally designed for educational and residential use, the IEA was renovated and renamed Eden Oak after the site was acquired by a hotel group in 2020, demonstrating the adaptability of its spatial planning and the enduring value of its considered design. The project exemplifies how architecture can mediate between urban and natural contexts, creating a serene, functional, and inspiring environment for learning, collaboration, and reflection.
