ENCANTS PRIMARY SCHOOL                                                                                            JANUARY 2013

The existing site, which is currently used as a coach depot, fringes an area currently seeing large-scale transformations in the city. The proposal must take into account the changes which this district will see in the coming years and provide a replacement to their overcrowded school which currently occupies a much smaller site only a few hundred meters away.

The 'E' shape plan of the new proposal dissects the site to create a number of exterior spaces, such as playgrounds and sports facilities. The larger east facing block which runs from north to south houses the primary school whilst the three south facing perpendicular blocks house the infant school, a canteen and a sports hall. This larger block acts as a noise barrier between the playgrounds to the east and the apartment buildings to the west of the site.

The Infant school classrooms overlook shaded exterior courtyards and share a communal playground which runs eastwards towards the school entrance. The primary school classrooms are orientated to the east and give students views of the new park and playgrounds below. The classrooms are naturally ventilated and protected from the strong afternoon sun.

The entrances to the Primary school and the Infant school have been separated to reduce morning and afternoon congestion and new green spaces have been included to run around the perimeter of the school to provide parents and children with a safe buffer zone between the school gates and the busy streets that enclose the site.