Barton Engineers: Design lessons: shortlisted schemes for Southwark primary schools

HKR Architects with John Pardey Architects win RIBA competition for Primary Schools

03 August 2007, Building Design

An RIBA competition for Southwark Council encouraged architects to talk to the staff and pupils of the three primary schools being upgraded

The rebuilding of the UK’s secondary schools has been criticised for not giving architects an opportunity to demonstrate innovative and sustainable design. But with a major investment in primary schools to mirror that for secondary schools, Southwark Council used a competition to select three practices to refurbish two and rebuild one of the London borough’s primary schools. It wants these to be exemplar projects that could set a benchmark for others to follow.

Run by Southwark Schools for the Future, the RIBA and Aylesbury New Deals for Communities, a two-stage process led to the selection of SMC Alsop, HKR Architects and John Pardey Architects, and Birds Portchmouth Russum.

The competing architects praised the process for allowing them to engage with staff and pupils during the design stage.

Jonathan Leah, project director at SMC Alsop, said: “In our experience this kind of competition is really to be commended — it enabled project team access to the users to explore initial ideas, needs and dreams with the pupils and staff… while at the same time took account of the stipulated written aspects of the brief.

“In turn the process gave the commissioning team and head teacher the opportunity to develop an understanding and confidence in their future architectural team, which would be so instrumental in helping to realise their ambitions.”

Eveline Lowe Primary School

Winner: HKR with John Pardey Architects and Colin Stansfield-Smith

Grade II listed, the existing 1960s school is modest and unassuming, but when built its educational philosophy was innovative and influential. The wining team wanted to retain some of the school’s original aura, while making better use of the limited site to create a more attractive environment, and to integrate the infant and junior schools which will increase capacity.

To this end new classroom buildings on piloti were added at first floor level — perhaps not the most obvious place to build — which allowed the architect to form a new enclosure around the school buildings.

This will become a sanctuary for play and learning, where the boundary itself becomes part of the outdoor environment.

News and Press

HKR Architects with John Pardey Architects win RIBA competition for Primary Schools

An RIBA competition for Southwark Council encouraged architects to talk to the staff and pupils of the three primary schools being upgraded

Eveline Lowe Primary School