13/11/2024
2006
Ottery Primary School was the subject of a 4 million pound building development which added 10 new classrooms, an ICT suite, a dedicated Art and DT room, a Dance/Drama studio and a new kitchen.
TFQ worked on funding submissions as well as design consultation, planning drawings and construction packages. Working closely with the school to establish their needs and the shortfalls of their existing accommodation, TFQ identified that the most appropriate and economic solution for extending the school was to demolish three of the five pods and provide a new extension to house the accommodation required to provide a two form entry primary school.
The plan took the form of a central top lit atrium housing the ICT suite at the ground floor. Circulation wrapped around the atrium on both levels and afforded access to all the teaching spaces. Ancillary accommodation such as storage and toilets was tucked away to the rear of the extension where there was no natural light. The careful arrangement of accommodation, combined with the clever manipulation of natural light and ventilation resulted in a tight, efficient plan form providing well lit, airy teaching accommodation.
Both internally and externally, a simple yet bright palette of colours was employed, highlighting steel columns, wind catchers, infill panels, stair balustrades and teaching walls. Externally a combination of timber cladding, render and brick helped to break up the bulk of the building and relate it to it’s wider setting and the local materiality. The resulting building proved very popular with the staff, children and local community as it provided a colourful, comfortable and inspiring learning environment. As a result, TFQ were later commissioned to design and manage a pre-school extension to the school.
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