A number of schools have been name regional RIBA award winners for embodying excellence in architecture and demonstrating how a well designed school building can promote academic achievement and pupil and teacher wellbeing
Alleyn’s Lower School, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have named a number of schools as winners of its regional awards. The buildings are amongst the best architecture around the UK. The schools selected showcase a commitment to designing and developing educational spaces for the improvement and enhancement of pupil and teacher’s lives. More regional winners will be announced in the coming weeks, and all winning buildings will be in the running for highly coveted RIBA National Awards, which will be announced on 27 June 2019. Commenting on London’s winning buildings, RIBA London director, Dian Small, said: “Each year RIBA London Awards celebrate a diverse and eclectic range of project types and scales and celebrate the very best new buildings across the Capital. 2019 winning projects include beautifully-designed school extensions, several significant public sector housing projects, state of the art office buildings and exquisite conservation projects, which breathe new life into some of London’s greatest treasures. Once again, all winning buildings demonstrate the extremely high standard of design quality in London and the breadth of its architectural output.”
Design & Build
Celebrating beautiful school buildings
The triangular building maximises the best use of the site, and creates a clear, legible and easy-to use building internally. The classrooms have been successfully distributed in clusters of two, grouped around the three sides of the atrium over two floors. The upper classrooms are particularly successful, as they utilise the pitched roof space to create a spatial characteristic reminiscent of home. The building’s layout has eliminated the need for long, intimidating corridors. This has resulted in circulation spaces being cleverly integrated with social spaces. The central space is small but creates an intimate space for the children to gather and socialise. Its size has the added benefit of creating visual connections between teachers and the children, offering important non-verbal reassurance to children who feel unsure in their new environment. The spatial arrangement of classrooms in a triangular form around the central atrium creates an intimate building that is attuned to the scale and spatial requirements of the 300 pupils who occupy the building. It is abundantly apparent that the architect has given careful consideration to the needs of the children and their teachers. The building provides a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment for them to learn, socialise and grow, setting a fantastic precedent for future school projects.
All winning buildin in the r gs will be the RIB unning for Awards A National be ann , which will ou 27 June nced on 2019
top-lit central space, and the warm palette of robust materials, which include timber and brick. The building, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, makes a positive contribution to the wider urban context through its definition of the triangular site. Its sensitive approach to scale and massing ensure it does not overwhelm residential neighbours. Its distinctive appearance – achieved by its form and restrained brick detailing – creates a readily identifiable landmark for the school.
A curious science lab Eleanor Palmer Primary School’s new Science Lab has also scooped a RIBA London Award. It was conceived as a ‘wonder room’; a place for discovery and experimentation. The small, wooden lab, designed by AY Architects, accommodates classes and after school clubs for up to 31 pupils (aged 3-11 years) and is a shared resource for the school, neighbouring community and other schools. The modest construction budget, partly funded with section 106 money deployed by Camden Council as part of its program for developing science, E
Eleanor Palmer Primary School’s new Science Lab, designed by AY Architects
Alleyn’s Lower School Alleyn’s Lower School has won a London RIBA Award. The new building has been successfully achieved through the building’s layout of classrooms, which are arranged around a
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