Whiteley Primary School, Fareham
The school sits on a site of ancient and more recent woodland in the fast growing community of Whiteley Village. One of the principal aims of the design was to encourage an interest in the built as well as the natural environment, particularly in terms of sustainability and energy management (over 50% of children cycle to school).
The classrooms, library and resource areas run west to east in a gently faceted form, guided by the site with a stream to the south. They are shaded from summer sun by large roof overhangs, which also allows heat from the low winter sun to penetrate.
Glazed north lights provide sufficient light, that the need for artificial illumination during the normal school day is greatly reduced. The sweeping pitched roof has large areas of patent double glazing to provide high levels of north light and ventilation.
The siting allowed retention of the best existing woodland. The site conditions necessitated a piled solution, with 19m piles supporting ground beams and suspended concrete floors. The main materials used were Stock bricks externally, cedar shingle roof and stained timber glazed screens.
Whiteley Primary School won the Brick Development Association Award for
Sustainability in 2002, an RIBA South Award in 2002, a Civic Trust Award
in 2003.
