PROJECT: Rosendale Primary School Classrooms

LOCATION: South London

DATE: 2011

The sensitive refurbishment of four Victorian classrooms was completed for the Autumn 2011 term. As parent volunteers, Carol Costello and Kristina Roszynski undertook a study of the existing London Board School to offer advice on overcoming issues of visual clutter, poor layout and discomfort in hot and cold weather. The study revealed that if some of the features of the original Victorian building were restored and new features added, we could create both an environmentally friendly and child-centred learning space for the 21st century.

Cullinans carried out detailed designs for an initial phase of refurbishment which included a solar heat gain study with Synergy Consulting. Our proposals reduce summer heat gain and increase natural daylight with new high performance roof lights and external pergolas to provide shading. The original high ceilings and refurbished windows will provide good natural ventilation once again. The old fireplaces have become an imaginative focal point for the reading corner. New storage is child accessible for ease of use.