Schools for sustainable futures: a study into the concept of bespoke primary school design in South Wales

Roach, Gareth 2011. Schools for sustainable futures: a study into the concept of bespoke primary school design in South Wales. MPhil Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

In comparison to other contributors, schools as polluters play a small role in the national total of carbon dioxide emissions. However, in the area of national reform towards this future shift in all sectors becoming more environmentally aware, schools and education are pivotal. There is political focus on carbon reduction as it is more easily measured than social developments; however, sustainable design seeks to improve the well-being of our communities and the individuals that live within them as well as global problem of climate change. The aim of this research was to interpret a design solution to satisfy the existing debate surrounding the future of primary school design in Wales. This research has investigated how the architecture of schools can respond to the needs of a community, its culture and social issues as well as the education of its pupils. This research outlines the elements that encompass ‘good school design’ and the philosophical drivers behind developments of the school plan. It includes a summary of the current political and cultural aspirations towards school buildings and education in Wales and considers how the built environment can influence a child’s cognitive development. Through literature review, site investigations and critical analysis of four established successful primary schools in South Wales, a series of design proposals are developed for Williamstown primary school in the Rhondda Valley. It is the author’s intention to display an ‘idealistic’ design proposal of a primary school that highlights the possible influence that architectural design of schools can have over the social habits and culture of its users. The design is a series of concepts developed in parallel with the research, used to interrogate the potential of bespoke school design. The authors design for Williamstown challenges what a school can be. Nestling the buildings within the landscape and sprawling the physical morphology changes the very nature of the school as a single institution. The school can act as a cultural centre with the children themselves actively promoting a social change towards a rejuvenated sustainable community. The research suggests the favoured places within a school are those that have involved the users and are more cherished for their unique nature. Bespoke design is informed through consultation with the community, it is not a school given to them, but created with them.

Item Type:	Thesis (MPhil)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bespoke design of sustainable primary schools
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2016 22:22
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/13323

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