Refurbishment of existing Kennels into Outdoor Learning Building
The scheme was the creation of a purpose built ‘Outdoor Learning Centre’ to facilitate and expand the delivery of existing ‘Outdoors Learning’ education within the particular educational sphere of Special Educational Needs (SEN). Building on the ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED rating, the intention was to create an exemplary facility that extends its work to involve the wider community, visiting schools and offer training; becoming a Centre of Excellence.
The building and method of building construction was intended to be an active demonstration of ‘sustainable construction’ so that the design itself engages and educates.
The existing ‘Kennels’ building (formerly school farm dairy & animal housing) remained on the site in a state of dereliction and the proposal was to sympathetically restore this facility as a simple and functional weatherproof space repairing brickwork, timber and roof coverings. The intention was to be ‘minimalist’ in the refurbishment and within the restored spaces insert ‘pods’ or ‘selfcontained’ units of free-standing accommodation creating storage and toilet facilities. This maintains the structure very closely to its 19th C origins and allows for integration of habitats e.g. swallows and bats.