CONTENTS DESIGN BRIEF PROJECT RATIONALE SITE ANALYSIS SWOT PRECEDENTS DESIGN CONCEPT LAYOUT OPTIONS PLAN OF WORK

FEASIBILITY

CONTENTS DESIGN BRIEF PROJECT RATIONALE SITE ANALYSIS SWOT PRECEDENTS DESIGN CONCEPT LAYOUT OPTIONS PLAN OF WORK

DESIGN BRIEF Biophilia can be defined as the instinctive bond between humans, nature and other living systems. As humans have evolved we have put less emphasis on the importance of how our connection to nature can benefit us and why it is essential to maintain it. It seems only in recent years people have begun to take a step back from their current surroundings and search out healthier environments and understand the impact this can have on their health and well being. The classroom could be one of the most influential environments for young children, with effectively designed education facilities and by integrating biophilic principles into our education system alongside the current curriculum we could enhance student performance whilst improving their health and well being. By educating our children about the environment and integrating them with nature, they will gain more appreciation for their surroundings and grow up willing to tackle environmental issues and reduce their carbon footprint. The conservative party are looking at building at least an extra 500 schools for 270,000 children across the UK. They are looking at standardising and reducing the cost of building new schools with a flat packed approach but this has received a lot of criticism. The Royal Institute of British Architects have expressed concerns that this approach would affect the quality of teaching and the students well being. Education secretary Michael Gove s approach has received negative reactions claiming that it is too restrictive and there is no consideration for the well being or comfort of students and teaching professionals or future sustainability. The Government would like every school to be sustainable by 2020, a national framework has been created to ensure schools have a good understanding of the expectations. Tree House is an initiative aiming to develop innovative, sustainable, healthy learning environments incorporating biophilic design principles that can be used as a benchmark for future school developments. The buildings they design are transparent in terms of sustainable development showcasing the procedures and energy sources used allowing the building to educate all users about their environmental impact. Children are born as biophilic beings and have an inborn curiosity for learning from the natural world. (Richard Keller)

CLIENT Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council have decided to expand St Thomas CE primary school in Heaton Moor. The development will enable the school to operate on a dual site basis occupying the original site on Wellington Road and the new site on the former Peel moat leisure centre. The existing school has reached maximum capacity so there is insufficient space to accommodate the increase in demand. The school have already taken some action to try and accommodate the number increase including converting non teaching space into classrooms and staggering playtimes, however this is having a negative effect on the learning and teaching environment and putting the school and staff under extra pressure. The client has requested a new proposal for the current development on the peel moat site for the infant school with a capacity of approximately 180 pupils. It will be a 2 form entry school for key stage 1 (ages 4-7) including a Reception year, year 1 and year 2. The client has requested to adapt the proposed plans to create a more flexible way of learning and place more emphasis on sustainability and creating healthy learning environments. REQUIREMENTS LIBRARY AREA SHARED AREAS CLOAKROOMS LARGE HALL AREA MULTIPLE USES P.E/CANTEEN STORAGE KITCHEN HEADS OFFICE MEETING ROOM RECEPTION AND WAITING AREA TOILETS STAFF KIDS VISITORS 6 CLASSROOMS OFFICE ADMIN STAFF ROOM OPEN PLAN LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE EXTERNAL PLAY AREAS SOCIAL AREAS SPORTS AREAS EXTERNAL HABITAT AREAS CAR PARKING CYCLE STORAGE

SCHOOL RECEPTION & WAITING AREA RECEPTION YEAR 1 YEAR 2 2 CLASSROOMS 2 CLASSROOMS 2 CLASSROOMS TOILETS HEADS OFFICE ADMIN OFFICE STAFF ROOM MEETING ROOM CAR PARK CYCLE STORAGE STORAGE KITCHEN CLOAKROOMS SOCIAL AREAS SHARED AREAS LIBRARY AREA HALL AREA/CANTEEN/PE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE EXTERNAL PLAY AREAS HABITAT AREAS SPORTS AREAS TOILETS

OBJECTIVES Create a design concept incorporating biophilic principles to generate a healthy learning environment that can be used as a template for future developments Visibly demonstrate sustainable development to all users to encourage learning Design an inspiring interior to engage and motivate students and teachers Create a building that connects with the external environment limiting the boundaries between inside and outside providing direct access and views Minimise the environmental impact and carbon footprint as much as possible by using energy efficient building techniques and materials Be sympathetic to the surrounding areas and considerate to the local community Create an open environment encouraging social interaction offering flexibility for a range of different learning activities Improve landscaping, encourage bio diversity and integrate this with the building design Ensure the design is inclusive and accessible for all users Promote the Tree House ethos and integrate sustainability not only with the physical surroundings but also through learning and values

PROJECT RATIONALE

RATIONALE - Steady increase in demand for Primary school places in the Heatons due to higher birth rates and inward migration to the area - Projected 7% increase in the number of pupils attending primary schools in Heaton Moor over the next 4 years - The current temporary solutions such as portacabins, using non teaching areas and staggering playtimes are having a negative affect on teaching standards and adding unnecessary strain on the school - St Thomas are currently over subscribed by 2.5% this is set to increase to at least 7.3% by 2017/18 if no action is taken - The local authority have a duty to provide sufficient school places for parents in the area, if no action was taken there would be a shortfall of 70 places by 2017 - The Peel Moat site has been vacant since its closure in 2012 it has been left in poor condition so regeneration to this site is needed, this will benefit the wider community - The proposed development has received a positive reaction from parents and the local community - The new site will accommodate existing and additional pupils it will also create more space at the existing site for the juniors - The proposed development will provide up to date sports facilities and large external areas available for both sites to use, this will contribute to the health and well being of all students

BIOPHILIC DESIGN Humans have had a strong connection with nature since the beginning of time and we thrive in our natural environment, however as we have evolved we have put less emphasis on the importance of how our connection to nature can benefit us and why it is essential to maintain it. It seems only in recent years people have begun to take a step back from their current urban surroundings and search out healthier environments and understand the impact this can have on their health and well being. Biophilia can be defined as the instinctive bond between humans, nature and other living systems. There are 3 main areas where we can benefit from Biophilic design principles in our environments. These are improving our cognitive functions such as our ability to learn, our level of creativity and our performance. Secondly our psychological health and well being can have a positive response through reduced stress levels and balanced emotions. Finally our physiological health and well being can improve as reduced stress levels mean relaxed muscles, lower heart rate and blood pressure. Combined these features lead to a more positive experience improving our performance, well being and happiness. Education is an area that could see many benefits by adopting biophilic principles. Its is so important to ensure our children maintain a healthy connection with nature and the outdoor environment, if we instil these values into the younger generation from an early age they will continue to respect their planet into adulthood. By increasing their awareness we can create a generation with a desire to tackle current environmental issues such as global warming and reducing their carbon footprints. There have been many studies carried out on how important it is for the younger generation to have access to outside environments. The Last Child In The Woods by Richard Louv discusses the ever increasing divide between children and the outside environment and the implications this can have on a nature deficit generation. This research links the lack of contact with nature to the rise of obesity, attention deficit disorders and depression. As the majority of children worldwide now live in an urban environment it is increasingly important for us to understand the impact this can have on childhood development and how we can look at making positive changes to children s surroundings. Our society must look at new ways to incorporate healthy lifestyles into their built environment, it seems to make sense to do this in education facilities where children spend most of their time and are so open to learning. By integrating these design principles into educational settings it could not only benefit the institution but the economy as a whole. With rising costs of education we could see reduced consumption costs by being more energy efficient, reduced staff costs due to lower staff turnover, reduced sickness levels and improved job satisfaction. KEY POINTS- - IMPROVE ATTENDANCE BY UP TO 3.5 DAYS A YEAR - IMPROVED TEST RESULTS BY 5-14% - INCREASED LEARNING SPEEDS OF UP TO 26% - MENTAL FUNCTION AND MEMORY CAN BE IMPROVED - REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF ADHD - IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN MATHS, SPELLING AND SCIENCE BY 10-14% - CONCENTRATION LEVELS INCREASED - IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING - BENEFIT THE ECONOMY - IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS

SCHOOL OF ARTS SINGAPORE The school of arts in Singapore is an inner city school in an urban environment. The architects have created a simple, flexible space maximising natural light and ventilation. They have increased the students connection with the outside environment integrating natural elements within the building. The green walls not only enable the users to have connections with plants they also act as environmental filters, keep the classrooms cool and improve acoustics. ST MARY S INFANT SCHOOL St Mary s infant school by Jessop and Cook architects is an example of how biophilic principles can be incorporated into educational facilities. It is a relatively small scale and simply designed space but has many biophilic design principles. One of the key features is the use of natural light, with studies suggesting an increased learning speed of 20-25% (Heschong 1999) this is one of the most beneficial attributes. They have also maximised the views of nature, designed a range of different spaces including interior and exterior play areas and have used a palette of natural materials, colours and textures. Acoustic panels have been used to reduce noise distractions and help create an effective learning and teaching environment for students and staff. CASE STUDIES

NEW WAYS OF LEARNING Today s schools focus primarily on the curriculum and educational principles, however more thought needs to be given to the impact the built environment can have on our children s ability to learn. Society is changing as is the modern workplace, we are moving to a more flexible way of working with more emphasis being placed on skills such as innovation, creativity and communication. This should be reflected in our learning environments to prepare our children and teach them the skills they will need in the future. The UK need to re-evaluate how we currently view our education facilities. We can look towards other countries for alternative education settings and teaching methods. Why are all our school buildings similar? Do children need to be in a traditional classroom setting? Is this the most effective way our children can learn? CASE STUDY: VITTRA SCHOOLS Udeskole is a Scandinavian concept meaning outdoor school. In Scandinavia it is compulsory for education activities to be carried out in an outdoor environment on a regular basis. Teaching outside gives pupils the opportunity to work together and helps them understand and appreciate the environment and their surroundings. The Forest school ethos is an integral part of Scandinavia's curriculum however in the UK it is a relatively new concept. It gives children the opportunity to learn through hands on woodland experiences and is gaining popularity across the UK. Forest schools were pioneered by Bridgewater college in 1993 after a team visited Denmark on an exchange trip and they were inspired by the countries outside learning philosophy, on their return they set up the first forest school in Somerset. Vittra is an international learning program with schools based in Sweden. They view education differently and focus on individual development plans for all students. They wanted to create a challenging learning environment without classrooms using interactive sessions and teaching to prepare the children and focus on building confidence, self awareness and creativity. Rosan Bosch is the Creative Director of Rosan Bosch Studio, she specialises in designing inspiring school environments and came up with the concept behind the interiors of the Vittra schools. She created an interior based around the schools principles, so instead of conventional classrooms interaction is key and different learning zones were developed to accommodate the alternative teaching styles. The Forest school association charity has since helped 12,000 teachers and professionals take the relevant training to be qualified to work in forest schools and they are gradually appearing across the UK.

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS Prior to its closure in April 2012, the site provided the following facilities: PEEL MOAT SITE PLAN Target Fitness Suite Sports hall accommodating 4 badminton courts, 5 A-side football and basketball 2 squash courts Aerobics Studio, offering a range of classes throughout the week Sunbeds 1 Artificial grass pitch which had not been used for a number of years A crèche

SITE ANALYSIS Heaton Moor is a popular residential area with good transport links to Stockport and Manchester. Its popularity has grown in recent years due to the good local schools in the area and its strong sense of community. Primary schools in the area are currently struggling with the increase in demand and are admitting additional pupils as a temporary measure however a long-term solution is needed. Over the next 4 years there is a projected increase in intake for reception places of a minimum of 4.3%. St Thomas has already exceeded its capacity by 2.5% which could result in overcrowding and a reduction in the teaching standards provided. The new development would enable St Thomas to increase its capacity to a two form entry school. In March 2012 the council closed Peel Moat leisure Centre with no plans for future development on the adjacent site the former Stockport college building has been demolished and a housing development comprising 129 houses is currently under construction. The building is surrounded by a residential area, the site can be accessed from Buckingham Road and there is a public footpath running alongside the site boundary. PROPOSED SITE CONSIDERATIONS- - ACCESS TO THE SITE - PARKING PROVISIONS FOR STAFF AND VISITORS - INCORPORATE CYCLEWAY - REMAIN SYMPATHETIC TO SURROUNDINGS - MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE SURROUNDING GREEN LAND - REMAIN CONSIDERATE TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA - PROTECT URBAN GREEN SPACE - PUBLIC FOOTPATH EXISTING SITE

12 13 11 JM Architects are proposing a 2 story, rectangular building with a floor area of 2000sqm and a capacity of approx 360 pupils 22 16 16 16 13 8 18 20 10 9 19 16 The width of the proposed building is 25.5m x 44.7m with a maximum height of 8.72m this is a similar size to the previous building occupying the site DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Externally the palette of materials suggested comprises of brickwork, white render and cladding 14 21 Key 1 2 Building Car Parking (35Nr capacity) 18 22 Timber Bridge structure 7 1 24 3 4 Disabled parking bays (3Nr capacity). Main vehicular access 19 20 Woodland walk Story telling area with timber log seating 6 5 6 7 8 9 Pedestrian access (public footpath) Covered cycle shelter. Soft landscaping Hard landscaping with timber logs Climbing frame - activity area 21 22 23 24 25 Bin Store location Public Footpath Main entrance - pedestrian access to school Service access xxx 22 17 16 13 6 23 15 3 2 10 11 Horticulture area with raised planting beds Grass mound with orchard planting 26 27 xxx xxx 22 12 Habitat area with pond and decking 28 xxx 13 Woodland planting 14 15 Grassed sports pitches Hard landscaped plaza/entrance area 22 5 4 16 17 Security fencing to perimeter of the site 2.4m high Multi Use Games Area EXISTING SITE PLAN

3 No. Windcatchers on roof 3 No. Windcatchers on roof Mid-Grey aluminium coping 8720 Mid-Grey aluminium clad fascia & white prefinished soffit to Entrance Canopy PROPOSED BUILDING HEIGHT FROM GL White render Coloured 'Trespa' panneling Mid-Grey Polyester Powder paint finished aluminium rainwater pipeto canopy Dark Grey Engineering Brick Ground Floor facing brickwork Mid-Grey Polyester Powder paint finished aluminium rainwater pipes and hoppers Coloured cladding panneling White render Mid-Grey aluminium clad fascia & white prefinished soffit to Entrance Canopy Mid-Grey Polyester Powder paint finished aluminium window frames, doors & door frames 3 No. Windcatchers on roof 8720 Head Office: Birch Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HY Tel: 01902 422431 PROPOSED BUILDING HEIGHT FROM GL 2nd floor, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE Tel: 0161-217 6900 Mid-Grey Polyester Powder paint finished aluminium louvres to First Floor Plant Room 2nd floor, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE Tel: 0161-217 6900 Head Office: Birch Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HY Tel: 01902 422431 Other Office locations can be found on website: www.carillionplc.com Other Office locations can be found on website: PROJECT www.carillionplc.com St Thomas' CE Primary School Expansion PROJECT St Thomas' CE Primary School Expansion CLIENT SMBC DRAWN CHECKED DATABASE 097-14-0028 22.10.14 DRAWING NR REV SCALE P03 - NB PROJECT NR EXISTING FLOOR PLAN SUBJECT Floor Plans for new junior block DO NOT SCALE from this dwg. Mid-Grey Polyester Powder paint finished aluminium external cover to incoming services CLIENT Dark Grey Engineering Brick Ground Floor facing brickwork SMBC DRAWN DATE A1 1:100 CHECKED DATABASE PO NB 097-14-0028 PROJECT NR DRAWING NR REV 097-14-0028 P5 - SUBJECT Proposed Building Elevations New Junior Block EXISTING ELEVATION DO NOT SCALE from this dwg. EXISTING PLAN DATE 22.10.14 SCALE A1 1:100

SWOT ANALYSIS

S O Promote healthy learning environments incorporating biophilic principles Create an educational facility to maximise children s learning potential Design a unique, inspiring space for students and staff Promote sustainability and its importance Create an environment to engage and motivate students Regenerate a disused site Create more school places to satisfy the increase in demand in the surrounding area Protect open urban space Support received from parents and local community Providing up to date sports facilities and large external areas to contribute to the health and well being of all students Supporting the local economy Develop a design concept incorporating biophilic principles that can be used as a template for future developments Visably demonstrate sustainable development Create a building connecting with the external environment Encourage social interaction by offering flexibility for a range of different learning activities Improve landscaping and encourage bio diversity Promote the Tree House ethos to develop innovative, sustainable, healthy learning environments Develop a more flexible way of learning Improve community facilities in the area Encourage children to maintain a healthy connection with nature and the outdoor environment Integrate biophilic design principles into education facilities could be beneficial for the economy Could lead to improved attendance, test results, increased learning speeds, mental function and memory Potentially lead to reduced ADHD symptoms Improve concentration levels Challenge our traditional views about learning Incorporate cycle way Inclusive Design New concept Make users aware of importance of Biophilic principles Use space effectively Be fun and functional T Curriculum requirements Space requirements Surrounding green space Sympathetic to local residents Encourage parents to see learning spaces differently W

PRECEDENTS

PAUL CHEVALLIER SCHOOL Montpelier Community nursery designed by AY Architects in London is a small nursery situated in public gardens. It is planned around a large flexible play space as the indoor-outdoor concept is key to their design. The sustainable building is clad externally with Fsc Siberian larch allowing the building to sit comfortably in its surroundings. Three horizontal strip windows have been used on the roof to maximise daylight and allow natural ventilation. The architects have positioned the building to get maximum solar gain and used over hanging blocks to prevent it from over heating. Large windows have been used maximising natural light and views onto the park and external gardens. MONTPELIER NURSERY The Paul Chevallier school in Lyon France designed by Tectoniques Architects is a building that has been designed with increasing the users contact with nature at its core. Natural materials have been used both internally and externally creating a tactile, stimulating learning environment. The V shaped buildings frame gardens and a courtyard and are surrounded by outside greenery and woodlands. The architects have incorporated this into the structure by using sloping green roofs creating different areas for the children to explore. The green roof and the buildings low profile helps the structure fit in with its surroundings allowing nature to work with the building. Floor to ceiling windows have been used to maximise the natural light and views of the natural surroundings.

The Kathleen Grimm School for leadership and sustainability designed by SOM Architects is the first zero energy school in New York. The building harvests as much energy from on-site renewable energy sources such as its solar panels and wind turbine as it uses on an annual basis. The orientation of the building maximises the sunlight and natural daylight other examples of the schools sustainability include the solar thermal system for hot water, energy recovery ventilators and a high performance building envelope. KATHLEEN GRIMM SCHOOL The Smart School is a concept designed by CEBRA Architects for an education campus in Russia. The 20 Hectare campus would provide flexible teaching space for 1040 students ranging from 3-18 years. SMART SCHOOL The architects vision was to create a school park using a ring of connected buildings surrounding a landscaped meadow instead of a single block, this would create an inter connected space accessible to all users. Large floor to ceiling windows enhance the views and natural light, overhanging roofs provide external shelter and the varying heights of the building indicate different uses. Internally the rooms are designed to be multi functional allowing the teachers and students to move between spaces depending on their needs.

CAMPER DOWN Camperdown childcare in Australia designed by Architects CO-AP is located in a former industrial warehouse in the inner west Sydney providing childcare for up to 80 children. The design incorporates inside and outdoor space maximising natural light and natural ventilation. Large cut out sections have been taken out of the warehouse roof to create play areas open to the elements. Primary shapes and bright colours have been used alongside a natural palette to encourage imaginative play and provide stimulating play zones. Natural materials with minimum finishes are used whilst retaining the existing warehouse features. Smartno timeshare kindergarten designed by architect Jure Knotnik in Slovenia has been designed to encourage interaction, peer learning and independent learning. The open floor plan has connected playrooms with sliding doors to create flexible learning spaces. Each playroom has different play equipment related to different subjects such as science, music and art allowing the children to choose where they want to play. This increases social interaction and maximises the use of space. Natural materials have been used alongside rubber surfaces, grass surfaces and sandboxes. SMARTNO

DESIGN CONCEPT

HOUSE SHAPE BUILDING BLOCKS TREE HOUSE BIOPHILIC PRINCIPLES

Tree represents the growth of our children within education facilities and the use of biophilic principles within the building Treehouse provides a link to childrens outdoor play activities TREE HOUSE The House shape creates a link to childrens house drawings and links to their comforting home environment

INNOVATIVE.SUSTAINABLE.HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. TREE HOUSE

MATERIALS INSPIRATION

LAYOUT OPTIONS

CLASSROOM 1 CLASSROOM 2 YEAR 1 CLASS ROOM 2 YEAR 2 CLASS ROOM 1 RECEPTION YEAR 1 CLASS ROOM 1 YEAR 2 CLASS ROOM 2 SHARED AREA LEARNING RESOURCE AREA LIBRARY AREA CLOAKROOM TOILETS HALL CLOAKROOM TOILETS KITCHEN STORAGE HEADS OFFICE ADMIN OFFICE STAFF ROOM TOILETS MEETING ROOM/SPACE ENTRANCE/RECEPTION AREA ZONING

RECEPTION ENTRANCE HALL YEAR 1 YEAR 2 IDEAS

IDEAS

PLAN OF WORK

WK 1 06/01 WK 2 13/01 WK 3 27/01 WK 4 03/02 WK 5 10/02 WK 6 17/02 WK 7 24/02 WK 8 02/03 WK 9 09/03 WK 10 16/03 WK 11 23/03 WK 12 30/03 WK 13 06/04 WK 14 13/04 WK 15 20/04 WK 16 27/04 WK 17 04/05 TUTORIALS DESIGN BRIEF CLIENT RESEARCH SITE ANALYSIS & RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS FEASIBILITY STUDY OBJECTIVES PROJECT RATIONALE SWOT ANALYSIS PRECEDENT RESEARCH DESIGN CONCEPT INITIAL ZONAL LAYOUTS INTERIM CRIT 1 CREATIVE IDEAS DESIGN DEVELOPMENT INTERIM CRIT 2 FINAL FLOORPLANS MAQUETTES RENDERED VISUALS 3D SCALE MODEL FFE PROPOSALS SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT CRITICAL EVALUATION FINAL DISPLAY IDEAS

Aimee Gray Feasibility Self-directed project BA(Hons) Interior Design with Sustainability