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Lewisham
£5m to £9.99M
New Build
Innes Associates Architecture and Urban Design
Innes Associates , 6-8 Cole Street , LONDON , SE1 4YH
This design takes an innovative approach to the relationship between internal and external spaces for teaching and learning in order to accommodate a large range of needs on a constrained site. Children are from Key Stages 1 through to 5 and with special needs, many at the more extreme end of the autistic spectrum. New buildings wrap around a split-level landscape courtyard, and transparency within the buildings ensures good visibility across all areas of the School. Perimeter circulation puts the class bases for the younger children into direct contact with the landscape and gives a pleasant outlook from all teaching areas. Intense interest in horticulture and the therapeutic possibilities of the landscape means this school (for once) makes the most of the space available. A water-play feature provides activities and sounds for the very youngest children; a contained ball-court gives opportunities for more physical play for the active children. It provides an interesting contrast to the technology-rich sensory room, an immersive space with sound, light and pattern projection to restore calm and develop audio, visual and tactile experiences.