Contemporary nursery in historic setting
Kingscourt is a high tech, contemporary nursery built as the “shadow extension” of a Grade II listed school.
The uniqueness of this scheme lays in the seamless integration of high-tech materials and bold contemporary design within a conservation area. The beautiful balance between old and new proves that conservation does not have to be old fashioned, but has all the possibility of being contemporary, innovative, and exciting.
Being situated in a conservation area and in the grounds of the Grade II listed Catherington House, the key part of the brief was to develop a design that was contemporary and innovative to provide the school with a functional and efficient space, whilst respecting the historic context of its surroundings. The development of the design has been dictated by the historic context and the established landscape. The new building was partially sunken into the sloping landscape, with the retention of a historic yew hedge setting off the new entrance canopy. The dark form of the building ensures that the principal views of Catherington House are maintained and enhanced.
Environmental performance was a great consideration throughout the project. The building is constructed using a SIPs system which reduced the embodied carbon resulting in a high thermal performance and an impressive air tightness of 0.98.
The new nursery has greatly imrpoved the life of the community. As a result of the new building, the kindergarten admissions are at a record high and have secured the School’s future for many generations to come. The additional space has also allowed the existing teaching spaces to be replanned to improve the School’s ability to deliver high-quality teaching across the whole site.
Photography by: Richard Chivers