Pineapple Island
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PRESENCE: The black exterior cladding departs from the materials of the surrounding area and fronts directly onto the pavement providing the school with an increased presence whilst bringing the pupils closer to the public.
David Grandorge (website) Download Original
A learning environment for children with behavioural difficulties
The Cherry Trees is a small primary school for boys with severe behavioural difficulties.
The creation and delivery of Pineapple Island, an alternative and aesthetic play environment, challenged traditional learning spaces associated with children with special educational needs.
The ideas developed informed a new stand alone building with a program focused on alternative activities.
The entire project mirrors the school’s ethos; providing a curriculum of playful, engaging, and practical intervention with a focus on ownership, communication and empowerment. Qualities necessary for fostering positive relationships with wider society.
Play is crucial, learning incidental. A focus on transitional space is a direct response to the mapping of major pupil incidents.
Led by an in-house Part 2 student and playworker, the project was developed in response to unprecedented access and exposure to the needs of pupils, families, staff and the broader school community.
Data
- Begun: Apr 2014
- Completed: Feb 2015
- Floor area: 63m2
- Sector: Education
- Total cost: £245,000
- Funding: LA match funding
- Tender date: Aug 2013
- Procurement: JCT DB 2011
- Address: The Cherry Trees School, 68 Campbell Road, Bow, London, E3 4EA, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Jayden Ali, Hwei Fan Liang, Alex Nikjoo, Shahid Hussain
- Client: The Cherry Trees School (London Borough of Tower Hamlets)
- Consultant and Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
- Building & Environmental Services : SGA Consulting Ltd
- Cost consultant/Quantity Surveyor: Burke Hunter Adams
- Main contractor: IMS Building Solutions
- Photographer: David Grandorge
Suppliers
- Bespoke furniture: Daniel Bradley
- Timber frame supplier and installer.: Merronbrook
- Bespoke furniture: Stephen Hallam
- Metal Fabricator: Can of Gas
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