Education

The practice was lead consultant, architect and landscape architect for this new primary school in Blandford Forum, Dorset.

The building design has a central hub forming its heart, comprising the entrance, staff zone, library, hall and other facilities used for out of school activities.  Angled teaching wings enclose the school but still allow panoramic views from the classrooms of the neighbouring valley.  Classrooms open onto group areas that in turn open onto a covered external area. This provides flexibility of teaching space and merges inner and outer learning space. New external areas and landscape design relates to the building and the topography, providing hard and soft play and games pitches.  

The building was designed to reduce energy usage by being naturally ventilated and maximising natural light whilst the overhanging covered external teaching areas control solar gain. The building uses its thermal mass to provide night cooling and employs a biomass boiler to provide heating and hot water. The result is a light, airy environment that promotes learning.