hawkins\brown add the ritblat building to the hilden grange prep school
a much needed new facility saves the school from dropping enrollment rates and quickly regains its title as a top of the line educational building.
‘ritblat building at the hilden grange preparatory school‘ by hawkins\brown, kent, england
image © tim crocker
all images courtesy of claire curtice
british firm hawkins\brown has shared with usimages of their new addition to the hilden grange preparatory school. the new structure offers new teaching spaces, a nursery, and science, art, and design support areas flanking a large multi-use hall that connects both wings and an exterior tiered play area between the new and existing structures. prefabricated laminated timber structural elements allowed the new addition to be completed in an academic year, preventing as much disturbance as possible to the educational functions. the cedar shingles, larch cladding and green roof compliment the the rural landscape and neighboring victorian aesthetic, with both new and old structures open towards the central space so that students can understand the new design and its relationship to the old structure.
celine george, senior teacher at the school states: ‘the new buildings are wonderful and have quite transformed the lives of all of us who work there.’
bird’s eye view
image © tim crocker
new central courtyard and play area
image © tim crocker
undulating play space
image © tim crocker
(left) entrance into the new structure
(right) bright wooden interior
image © tim crocker
cafeteria
image © tim crocker
classroom
image © tim crocker
model
image © hawkins\brown
model
image © hawkins\brown
model
image © hawkins\brown
model
image © hawkins\brown
concept diagram
image © hawkins\brown
project info:
architect: hawkins\brown
structural engineer: price & myers
landscape architect: b:d landscape
services engineering: peter deer associates
photos: tim crocker
client: alpha plus group
value: £4.3m
location: tonbridge, kent
awards: tonbridge civic society award 2012
