Kempston Primary School
Kempston, Bedford
2021
A low-carbon extension to a two-form-entry primary
The extension includes break-out teaching space, a meeting room, office and sports changing facilities for boys, girls and teachers. Wrapped in a timber frame building nispried by the lace making traiditons of Bedfordshire.
School design rooted in its locality
The design combines ideas about traditional lace making from Bedford, storytelling and playfulness. These themes were extrapolated into the framework of the extension’s facade - creating interesting views in and out, a connection between the landscape and the teaching spaces and social spaces for children to sit and chat and watch sports.
Treading lightly on the earth
This is underpinned by a philosophy of treading lightly on the earth, through a combination of low embodied carbon construction methods and materials, and low energy in use design.
The building is made from a timber frame, with recycled wood fibre insulation behind a stained cedar facade. It utilises the existing building-wide air source heat pumps to heat the spaces, has tripled glazing throughout and has four passive air ducts on the roof that naturally ventilate the building.
Working with teachers, governors and the facilities team
Working closely with the facilities team, headteacher, teachers and governors, through a series of sketches, models, workshops and presentations, we developed the design to accommodate the school’s growing needs. Primarily new changing facilities, where previously children had to get changed in the classrooms, with the added benefit of a flexible break out teaching space, office and meeting room.