Client:
Oxley Holdings
Location:
London
Completion:
August 2020
Royal Wharf Primary School is a new-build ‘Free’ school at the heart of the Royal Wharf masterplan. Two-form entry, it will provide accommodation for 420 pupils and 60 nursery pupils.
The school’s position on the corner of the high street and fronting onto a pocket square gives a civic aspect to the new public spaces of Royal Wharf. The building is conceived as a solid object, made from one material, carved and honed to create a connection between playground spaces and to break down the volume.
Within the school, we have created a series of diverse spaces for the children which connect between the different levels, both physically and visually. These encourage learning from others and a sense of inquisitiveness. A rooftop games area and outdoor spaces, which cater for many kinds of play and learning, complement the indoor spaces. The new building, naturally ventilated and with lots of natural daylight, will create a happy and successful school.
The new school is at the centre of the masterplan for 3,500 new homes in the London Docklands area. Its position on the corner of the high street and pocket square makes it a focus for the new neighbourhood, bringing people together at school in the day, and as a community space in the evening.
As a primary school, it is not of the same scale as the surrounding residential buildings and stands alone in style, visible to all, distinctive and appropriate for its use.
2022 RIBA London Award