Wilberforce Annex

This modest crèche and after-school centre makes the most of a limited budget. Replacing a Portakabin (which was sold on for re-use to contribute to the build costs) on a constrained site, a new standalone structure was designed so that it could be built by a local builder and joiner with minimal use of heavy machinery.

In lieu of a rectangular plan, two oblique walls open up towards the school and create more usable outdoor space. Similarly, a large folding double-glazed door links the interior space to the schoolyard, while a pitched roof extends the space vertically. Three operable rooflights can be used to vertically ventilate the classroom by opening the windows below. They also provide good access to natural light during daytime hours, reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

Simple materials, such as profiled fibre cement sheeting outside and sustainably-sourced birch plywood inside, with a Marmoleum floor, combine to create a robust and flexible space.