Education
Clad in light cream and ivory-coloured glazed terracotta, the two tower pavilions of 11 and 14 storeys mark the corners of the site
Project: Tiger Way Location: Hackney Downs Architect: Hawkins\Brown
has H awkins\Brown completed an education-
All images ©Jack Hobhouse
NEW MIXED-USE SCHOOL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR HACKNEY DOWNS A development on Tiger Way delivers a new two-form entry school and nursery for 420 pupils, cross-funded by the development of 89 homes for private sale.
On the first floor, the school’s ‘park room’ provides views across Hackney Downs
22
led mixed-use school and residential development in Hackney Downs on behalf of Hackney Council and Londonewcastle. The project used a cross-funding model to provide investment for the redevelopment of the school, with Londonewcastle’s OTTO housing development delivering funding needed by Hackney Council to build a new school. Hackney Council has relocated and expanded Nightingale Primary School into a purpose-built modern school building on the lower two storeys of the development. The 420-pupil primary school and nursery is split across two wings, with outdoor play areas distributed across the site in spacious courtyards and roof terraces. Each of the school’s 18 classrooms looks out onto a play area, which features high-quality equipment and extensive greenery. The school benefits from high ceilings, and provides high levels of natural light with natural ventilation throughout. Spacious circulation and common areas exceed DfE guidelines. Classrooms and specialist spaces – for design and technology, drama and cookery – combine high design quality with state-ofthe-art facilities. A multi-functional hall and outdoor games pitch provide space for PE provision and are joined by a double-height climbing wall with automatic belay systems that has proven extremely popular with pupils. The Learning Resource Centre and central circulation is located in a double-height ‘heart’ space linking the building’s east and west wings and providing additional breakout space. On the first floor, the school’s ‘park room’ provides views across Hackney Downs with full-height glazing in a multifunction space designed to provide additional assembly and gathering space for groups of children with teachers and support staff.
