Cullinan Studio has been carrying out phased improvements to Rosendale Primary School in south London since 2011. Previous extensions to the Victorian school were carried out without thinking about the wider picture and have resulted in a poor quality environment for the school community. Our improvements rediscovered the sound environmental design of the original buildings.
After observing a typical day at the school and consulting teachers, pupils and parents, a number of problems were highlighted.
Poor use of existing space caused congestion and cluttered learning spaces. We relocated cloakrooms for better adjacency to classrooms and to provide additional teaching space. The main hall became a shared learning area to reduce pressure on the under-sized classrooms and create a ‘town square’. Classrooms were remodelled to embrace original Victorian features, such as fireplaces, dado rails, teachers’ cupboards and timber floors.
Overheating in summer and heat-loss in winter resulted in high energy bills and poor comfort for learning. We carried out environmental modelling of each classroom to investigate how to achieve optimum improvements within the budget. Heat-gain was mitigated by fitting solar-controlled glass to the conservatory rooflights and relocating them to allow daylight to penetrate deeper into the room. Natural ventilation was encouraged by repairing the existing sash windows and reinstating high-level openings.
Toilets had an unfriendly atmosphere with low light levels. We created an open space by removing walls, uncovering existing rooflights and introducing glazed openings to allow easy supervision. Hand-washing in a separate area improved flow and encouraged children to wash their hands throughout the day.
Working over summer holiday periods, three phases are now complete. This has enabled the school to remain fully open during term-time and has ensured funding was staggered to keep within the tight budget - each phase costing no more than £100,000.
View Original