Superb example of collaboration of county, architect and school
Architype and Property Design, Carmarthenshire County Council for Carmarthenshire County Council
Contract value: £3.8m
GIA: 1993m2
RSAW Sustainability Award
RSAW Project Architect of the Year: jointly awarded to George Mikurcik, Architype and Andrew Tidy, Carmarthenshire County Council
This first Passivhaus school in Wales exudes a sense of calm and comfort, and it is clearly a place where it is easy to teach and to learn. It is a superb example of collaboration of county, architect and school. The layouts are imaginative, providing a delightful variety of spaces and volumes and atmospheres. Particularly successful is double-height elliptical ‘Pod’ with an acoustic quality and sense of intimacy that is truly special.
Inside and out it is beautifully designed. The new classroom wing flanks one side of the playground, part of an open ended, beautifully scaled courtyard, perfect for safe play. On the other side, landscaping and play equipment accommodate level changes creatively and practically.
Applications and attendance are up on the previous premises. That is hardly surprising: There is a positive focus on health and wellbeing in this an extremely sensitive, very carefully considered building.
See other winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2016 – Wales