Bishop’s Park College

Mark Dudek

Description

In the first line of their own description, the architects of this extensive new school structure raise the issue of its funding and procurement approach, the private finance initiative (PFI). This is perhaps an understandably defensive stance since the much criticised PFI process is often explained as an expediency which places the priority on the main contractor’s profits ahead of good design. Certainly many of the initial schools designed, built and maintained in this way are poor. However, this is not the case here, partly as a result of the complex and inclusive planning process required to incorporate a range of different uses into a single building, including a community library, a nursery and a centre for the over-60s.

The head teacher, Mike Davies, had a clear vision of what he wanted from his school. The brief was to organise the structure into three relatively self-contained units, schools within schools, all assembled under one roof; the intention was that this would be a compact two-storey plan, since a second priority was to minimise travel distances thus avoiding long internal corridors. The head teacher wanted good ‘policing’ of all the communal areas to help improve social interaction; as a result, circulation zones are broad and punctuated by social spaces and informed by elements of the brief which are open to circulation, making everything seem spacious and fluid. Students have glimpses of the library from first floor galleries, top-lit atria are positioned in close proximity to classrooms, to provide social ‘house’ areas acting as student common rooms.

Aspects of the architecture take inspiration from the coastal location. This has influenced the design in a number of ways, from the coloured panels on the elevations, reminiscent of the brightly coloured beach huts, to the sail-like projecting roof canopies over each classroom wing. Externally, seating areas are incorporated informally as well as formally by way of a number of subsidiary structures, including low timber walls styled on sea defence groynes, large rocks and wide bollards. A timber deck has been installed as an outdoor performance area and each of the three ‘sub-schools’ has been themed in tidal, heath and beach landscapes. Thus a ‘fresh air and sea breeze’ character is intended to symbolise an optimistic and bright future for the new school. At a time when many communities seek smaller, more localised school buildings, particularly at secondary school level, Bishops Park College illustrates the scope for large structures to provide good community facilities with which the users can relate well. The skill of the designers within the framework of the PFI funding regime shows how an inclusive process of consultation linked to good planning can create a sense of belonging to the individual parts of the whole. Add on a significant investment in art and landscaping, and the end result is an economical structure with all the benefits of the best contemporary public architecture.