Situated within the Holland Park Conservation Area adjacent to the park itself, the brief for this high profile redevelopment called for a new building that neither looks nor feels like a school. Won on the basis of an invited competition, Aedas London’s concept for the new 1,500 pupil school seeks to maintain an equivalent amount of external play space while consolidating the existing sprawling 1950’s campus-style development into a more compact footprint. It will provide a flexible teaching environment for the 21st century and allow the southern part of the site to be sold for redevelopment.
The concept for the new school comprises a large single block, orientated north-south, incorporating a full-length central atrium, which provides the social hub of the building with teaching wings on either side. The general classrooms are located on the quieter east side of the building while the larger specialist classrooms and noisier sports facilities are located on the west side of the building facing the park. The environmental performance of the building has been carefully considered and the distinctive elevational treatment tuned to help ensure good levels of ventilation and natural daylight.