allford hall monaghan morris clads burntwood school with faceted concrete panels

allford hall monaghan morris clads burntwood school with faceted concrete panels
image © rob parrish

nominated for the RIBA stirling prize, the transformation of ‘burntwood school’ in south-west london sees the introduction of six new structures within an existing educational campus. completed by allford hall monaghan morris, the design also reorganizes the site, with lawns, squares and a central pedestrian spine. four 4-storey teaching pavilions, a sports hall and a performing arts building, are placed among a number of retained buildings, including two by sir leslie martin, to form a complete and coherent campus.

the design reorganizes the site, with lawns, squares and a central pedestrian spine
image © timothy soar

the regularity of each plan is followed through to the elevation, with faceted precast concrete panels that correspond to a 7.5 meter structural grid. the pale and finely detailed cladding, with canted edges and different sized glazing, is playfully arranged on a rigid network creating an intriguing series of internal spaces.

six new structures includes four teaching pavilions, a sports hall and a performing arts building
image © timothy soar

internally, teaching spaces are arranged along a central corridor with voids and double-height volumes positioned at each end to increase natural daylight and make visual connections with the exterior. spacious classrooms are full of light, while each corridor culminates in a well-framed view of the campus.

see designboom’s previous coverage of the other projects nominated for the stirling prize here.

the regularity of each plan is followed through to each elevation
image © timothy soar

faceted precast panels correspond to a 7.5 meter structural grid
image © timothy soar

the pale and finely detailed cladding is playfully arranged on a rigid network
image © timothy soar

a communal lawn is positioned at the center of the plan
image © timothy soar

teaching spaces are arranged along a central corridor with voids and double-height volumes
image © timothy soar

the colorful dining hall
image © timothy soar

the campus is located in wandsworth in south-west london
image © timothy soar

project info:

completion: 2014
cost: £40.9 million
clients: wandsworth council lea / lend lease
contractor: lend lease
structural engineers: buro happold
m&e engineers: mott macdonald fulcrum
landscape architects: kinnear landscape architects
internal area: 21,405 sqm