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Holland Park
London, UK
project overview
Flexible education space in the heart of a conservation area
Located in London’s Holland Park Conservation Area and directly next to the park itself, the 1,500-pupil secondary school is a true embodiment of the school’s ethos and the curriculum on offer. Providing a flexible teaching environment for the 21st Century by rationalising the pre-existing 1950’s development into a more compact footprint. The new school creates a totally accessible environment, allowing everyone to enjoy the learning environment and a high quality of education.
![AHR-Education-HollandPark-Architecture-Interior5-London](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark1034.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015675&s=4a079432692aec345297939499e81bb5 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark1034.jpg?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015675&s=6ece50275a4a39c4717f879bea881c5e 1100w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark1034.jpg?w=1300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015675&s=7bac1126aecf55731c2fd0764efdd6fe 1300w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark1034.jpg?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015675&s=77b1d15619a1910dbbffb94456457dbf 1600w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark1034.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015675&s=68eb0cba5155ab289a7d6b676af9a989 1920w)
PROJECT AIMS
Challenging ‘traditional school design’
Unable to meet the demands of today’s curriculum, the old school buildings were no longer fit for purpose, expensive to maintain and had limited functionality. Addressing these issues formed the principle challenges which were set by The Royal Borough. They were supported by a strong leadership team at the school, who together, developed a vision which challenged the traditional notions on how teaching and learning takes place.
Above all, they wanted a building that neither looked nor felt like a school. It demanded a high aesthetic quality, functionality and flexibility which can adapt to changing curriculum needs.
The school involved pupils in the transformation via site visits, hands-on creative projects and regular presentations on progress. This level of engagement has continued with the building forming part of the science and design curriculum.
The form of the atrium with its raked profile provides an effective unifying structure to link the different classroom and offices and promises to create an uplifting environment for students and staff.”
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
design concept
Classic, dynamic and distinctive
![AHR-Education-HollandPark-Architecture-Exterior5-London](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark0145.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015672&s=e8399695d5f5cfa5aadee9c5a3b69dba 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark0145.jpg?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015672&s=72387198b474876fd17ed40a795cf746 1100w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark0145.jpg?w=1300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015672&s=34c39e77ebd1311406ade985428773d6 1300w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark0145.jpg?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015672&s=35fa0e0fc9cc6fc95604c91ca3de312e 1600w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Holland-Park/HollandPark0145.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015672&s=7e945cd9d5888f7908b801e4e1e75dbf 1920w)
sustainable design
Longevity for the future of education
The school has been designed with long-term resilience in mind – lowering energy consumption, maintenance costs and improving comfort.
Shaded with external louvres to minimise solar gain and glare, the atrium promotes natural ventilation and encourages daylight to enter through the building. Energy efficient lighting and daylight dimming help make the most of the natural light flooding the common areas and classrooms.
The school has involved pupils in the transformation via site visits, hands-on creative projects and regular presentations on progress. This level of engagement allowed us to integrate the building and its sustainability credentials as part of the science and design curriculum.
Programme constraints
Phasing plan to support the curriculum
Our programme was led by the need to maintain a functioning school throughout the build, to minimise the impact of the construction on the pupils, their experiences and outcomes.
We created a complex phasing plan, timed to
ensure the temporary accommodation block was available early to manage the move
out of the existing buildings before demolition and construction commenced. As
part of our plan, the main build was designed to coincide with the summer
break, allowing a phased moved back into the new building.
key information
Project summary
Location
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, W8 7AF
Client
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Completion
2012
Value
£80m
Environmental
BREEAM Very Good
Size
21,300 m2
Includes
1,500 pupil spaces
Awards
Winner - Structural Steel Design Awards 2014
Shortlisted - New London Awards 2013
Commendation - RTF Sustainability Awards Institutional Built Category 2014
Team
Meet the team behind the project
Contact
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