Combe Down Primary School - 6 Classroom Extension
This 400-place Primary School is in the heart of the village
on the southern outskirts of Bath. Pupils
were being taught in a variety of buildings ranging from an
original Victorian stone building; a log cabin, a recently
completed hall and several temporary classrooms dating from the
1960s and 1970s.
Site restrictions meant that three of the dilapidated temporary
classrooms were replaced on the same site. Therefore in
summer 2005 pupils were decanted around the village into church and
village halls and returned after 36 weeks to the new
classrooms.
The new 520m² accommodation provides four general teaching
classrooms and two larger reception classrooms with facilities for
water play and an external covered play area, plus pupils and staff
toilets and plant room. The circulation has high levels of
day lighting which is then introduced to the rear of the classrooms
to minimise dependency on artificial lighting.
Heating is a mixture of under floor heating and radiators from a
gas boiler. Ventilation to all classrooms is through roof
mounted passive units.
Traditional materials of natural bath stone random rubble walls
with a natural slate roof help the building blend into the village
vernacular.