Kingston House
A mixed-use, education-led scheme in Norbiton brings a 420-place primary school to the heart of the community. Co-locating with a private residential development has enabled the financing of a high-quality, unique school, seamlessly integrated into the community, generating lasting civic value.
Delivered on a prominent location in Norbiton, Kingston House overcomes the challenges of a constrained urban site nestled between railway tracks and protected trees. The project carefully balances the competing uses to ensure that the school and residential units coexist harmoniously on the same site, while maintaining their independence from one another.
Designed as a linear block along the train line, set away from the street, the school contains three floors of classrooms that overlook the surrounding green open space and outdoor learning zones. The youngest pupils have direct ground level access to specialist outdoor play areas to promote active learning. Elevating the learning experience to new heights, the school provides a rooftop MUGA play space in addition to a double-height basement sports hall, with out of hours use for the local community.
The entrance to the school is defined by a projecting box clad with vertical slats. It is designed to respond to the size and height of the nearby Victorian cottages, aligning with the ridgeline of their roofs. It provides a distinctive school entry on Coombe Road that reduces foot traffic in front of the residential dwellings and leads to a double-height entrance space internally.
Smaller versions of this motif are staggered across the school facade, cantilevered from the building mass behind the existing mature lime trees on Station Road. These spaces provide informal group rooms for teaching and learning, located across from the classroom areas.
420
PLACE SCHOOL
Offering much-needed places for inner-city children
EXCELLENT
BREEAM RATING
Creating sustainable buildings that don’t cost the earth
19
NEW HOMES
Providing accommodation and adding to the vibrant community
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