Client London Borough of Hackney / Mouchel Babcock Education
Location London, UK
Status Built
Awards
2012 AJ Retrofit Award
2011 3R Refurb Rethink Retrofit Award Finalist
2010 Hackney Design Award
2010 Hackney Design Award: People's Choice
Clapton Girls' Academy is a successful inner city secondary school with Specialist Technology status and is part of Hackney's Building Schools for the Future programme. Consisting of 40 per cent new buildings and 60 per cent refurbished buildings, the design provides an enhanced physical environment with particular respect to the historic architectural features of the elegant Edwardian buildings on the site.
The design resolves overcrowding and circulation problems by successfully strengthening movement between the new and existing buildings.
The use of warm and contemporary natural materials such as brick, timber and glass are sympathetic and respectful to the existing buildings.
Sustainable features have been used throughout the design and as a result, the design of the school has awarded a BREEAM rating of 'Very Good'.
'Throughout the design process we were clear that the overall ethos of the school that needed to be maintained and enhanced was that of a campus feel, an oasis of calm in the middle of Hackney, where our students feel safe and empowered to maximise their learning opportunities. Through their design process Jestico + Whiles ensured that our expectations in this respect were met.'
Erica Lanigan, Deputy Headteacher.
'This careful refurbishment and addition of two new
buildings creates a teaching environment of immense quality. Here the
architects have not been distracted by current design fads but have simply
added to the original school in a quiet and understated manner. The result is
outstanding.'
2010 Hackney Design Award Judges.
