Details
Location: London
Brick Manufacturers: Ibstock PLC / Northcot Brick
Brick Names: New Chailey Stock Medium Multi / Plumstead Antique
Architect: Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture Limited
Brickwork Contractor: Hodgson Rendering Specialist
About the project
The proposal for a new whole school library was developed closely with STAC in Nunhead, South London. The space focused on the demands of the school’s 6th Form, who had no dedicated space for personal study.
STAC was transformed and extended as part of the BSF programme about 10 years ago, creating a new quadrangle around the existing school buildings and the school chapel, the most dominant building on campus. The language of form, colour and materiality of the new building bridge the gap between the newer additions and the existing school. The new colonnade at the front of the library completes the colonnade of the recent extensions. Three brick colours are used – a red brick to match the existing chapel, a variegated brown brick borrowed from the recent additions and a reflective white brick to the colonnade that connects to the landscape. The aluminium windows, signage and arched motif were introduced to give the new building a distinctive identity within the school and relate to the arched forms of the existing chapel façade.
It was agreed that that the best location for the new library was in the heart of the school in a location where all students would be able to congregate. However, this created several construction problems. It was imperative that the school remain open for the duration of the building works. A traditional building would have taken approximately twelve months and in the middle of an occupied school would be too disruptive. We therefore developed a modular building, fabricated off-site and completed in 4 months. This was craned into position over the summer recess with the landscape completed once the children returned in September – causing minimal disruption.
To achieve all these aspirations and deliver the construction within a short window, we worked closely with a modular building company. We looked at how their system worked and how this could be adapted to achieve an appropriate architectural language within the school campus. Small details were considered, such as how the landscaping met the buildings, and the introduction of the external colonnade created an elegant, grounded design from standard modular building units.
Careful matching of brick colours and specifications allowed the new building to sit happily with the context of the school. Precise coordination of the brick dimensions to the modular grid and window locations allowed for minimal wastage and efficiency for the brick slips used to clad the modules. Flexibility in specification allowed the contractor to use their own supply chain where possible to help reduce risk and cost.
Set at the heart of the existing campus, the building reconnects the school with an under-used landscape area which can now be used as a social and study space. The new library successfully accommodates 90 pupils and houses 7,750 books. The existing quad can now be accessed from all sides, enjoyed with outdoor seating to green space in the existing courtyard and also now home to two new trees.
