Breathing life into a neglected piece of North London landscape to encourage children to play, explore and learn.
Collaborators:
Penoyre & Prasad, Wilmott Dixon, Ecology Consultancy
Status:
Completed
Forming part of the Crouch Hill Community Park, Ashmount Primary School is a newly created carbon negative school in the London Borough of Islington and was awarded the top environmental award for sustainable design and the UK’s first Primary School to achieve ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM rating.
Working alongside Penoyre & Prasad Architects, Wilmott Dixon and the Ecology Consultancy, the design of Ashmount Primary School and Bowlers Nursery maximises opportunities for children to engage with the landscape providing children with a valuable resource to teaching inner-city kids about the environment. The use of natural materials, natural play and woodland habitat enhancements has created a safe, robust and stimulating environment that encourages children to play, explore and learn.
The newly created central green space will give the public access to out-of-hours community activities in the school including, a shared games court. New ‘all-ability’ paths will link local housing and the Parkland Walk to attract visitors and improve safety. The whole site will become more permeable and accessible, with easy-access routes for wheelchairs, young children and parents with pushchairs.
Paths through existing trees are designed as raised boardwalks to reduce potential impact on tree roots and a sensitive lighting strategy will improve community safety in key areas, while respecting bat foraging corridors.
Phil was the Senior Landscape Architect for the delivery of the £13 million Crouch Hill Community Park scheme whilst working at Whitelaw Turkington.
