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Ashmount Primary School and Bowlers Nursery, Crouch Hill

Manipulates its plan and cross section

Credit: Morley von Sternberg

Penoyre and Prasad for Islington Borough Council

Contract value: £7.9m. GIA: 4445m2

Sustainability Award, supported by Sika, commended

The Zero-Carbon in-use BREEAM Outstanding school and nursery carefully manipulates its plan and cross-section to draw light inside and reveal woodland views. Burying the nursery under a grass bank and designing the school over four floors ensured the building would not exceed the footprint of the derelict community centre and nursery they replaced on this Metropolitan Open Land. 

  • Credit: Morley von Sternberg
  • Credit: Morley von Sternberg
  • Credit: Morley von Sternberg
  • Credit: Morley von Sternberg
  • Credit: Morley von Sternberg
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At the lower level of the school, a double-height multi-purpose room opens onto the playground and is flooded with natural light. Higher up, three wings of classrooms radiate out from the circulation spine, which contains a top-lit open-stepped auditorium. External stairs allow children to reach their classrooms at busy times without overcrowding the central circulation spine.


See other winners in the RIBA Regional Awards 2015 – London

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