AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ELEGANT, EASY TO MAINTAIN, SOCIALLY CONSIDERED, AND ARCHITECTURALLY INSPIRING STATE SCHOOL
The Charter School East Dulwich is a 8 form entry secondary school, funded by the Free Schools programme and the London Borough of Southwark. Part of the major regeneration of the former Victorian Dulwich Hospital site, by Southwark Council and the NHS, it will ultimately provide education for 1680 local students from 11-18 years, making it FCBStudios’ largest school to date.
It is conceived as a campus of individual buildings, each with a distinct function and united by landscape.
The first phase is made up of two buildings: The main building forms a back-drop to the site from the south providing specialist facilities for the study of science, design technology and art and design, together with all the general teaching spaces. A sports and dining building at the north-west edge of the site, on East Dulwich Grove, addresses the community more directly.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT, BY DESIGN
Designed for ease of operation and maintenance, the environmental design optimises solar orientation to maximise daylight and minimise overheating.
Oversize windows provide generous views out and make the most of the site’s established trees and views across London to lift the spirits of staff and students.
Working within the acoustic constraints imposed by the neighbouring railway, Natural Ventilation Heat Recovery units have been neatly coordinated with windows and M&E services to deliver fresh air throughout the teaching spaces and provide simple individual control of the classroom environment. PVs are installed on both buildings’ roofs and the exposed concrete structure provides thermal mass throughout.
NEXT STEPS
A third new building, remaining landscaping and refurbishment of the ‘chateau’ - the retained chapel of former 19th century St Saviour’s Union infirmary, will form phase 2. At this point, the main building will be seen to formally addresses the chateau across a new landscaped square that will ultimately form the physical and social heart of the school.