Hounslow Sure Start Centre

The main focus of the design is the sheltering roof, which has a symbolic role as well as the pragmatic one of providing a covered play spaces. The encompassing tent expresses the developing role of nurseries in taking an inclusive approach to the early years of family life

The concept started as a small tented city, each unit close to nature. This developed into a more buildable collection of spaces under one big top – effectively a rainscreen roof of polycarbonate on a steel frame. Other usual roof functions of providing ceilings, thermal and acoustic insulation, services routing, are located in the tops of the classroom volumes below.

There are generous sheltered outdoor play decks immediately on the north side for each of the main children’s spaces, and within the plan are more play decks to the east and an internal ‘beach’ courtyard – a sand-filled room rather than a sand pit.