The Mountbatten school and Language College, Romsey
‘Hatch Area’ Improvements
The brief for the improvements to the ‘Hatch area’ evolved from a comprehensive landscape survey and analysis carried out by Hampshire County Council’s Schools Landscape Programme.
The Hatch area is adjacent to the school kitchen and takes its name from the external hatch from the kitchen from which the pupils can purchase lunches and snacks during the school day. Previously the hatch opened onto a narrow pedestrian strip adjacent to one of the schools main parking area. Both staff and pupils identified the Hatch area as the major opportunity for improvement to the school site.
The high level of user involvement led to the development of a comprehensive brief for the design. The pupils wanted some shelter from the weather, with a variety of informal seating and gathering opportunities for different numbers of pupils – in their words ‘a Café atmosphere with music, a busy happening place’.
It was recognised at the scheme design stage that it was important to continue the high level of school involvement. A local artist/blacksmith was engaged to work with the School to develop three decorative screens for the area together with pupils from art, design and technology classes, who provided a range of images and ideas. The images were coupled with an expression of the special language status of the school.
Completion: June 2003
Value: £106000
