Emerging design schemes
Where might our new building go?
We believe the best position for the new Academy is just to the south of the existing John Bunyan buildings. This would allow the existing buildings to remain in use with minimal disruption while the new buildings are constructed. We believe the buildings should not be too close to the south or east boundaries of the site to avoid the flood risk zone and to avoid disturbing neighbouring houses. A two storey building would fit in well with the surrounding neighbourhood.
Illustrated here are three ideas for how the design of the Academy might develop. Each one is based on the idea of ‘fingers’ or ‘clusters’ which allow the accommodation to be grouped into subject learning areas with their own distinctive character. In addition to formal teaching spaces, each cluster could have its own social and dining area, open plan IT rich resource area, staff facilities, and toilets. Breaking the building into smaller clusters would help to ensure that the building is less overwhelming for younger students; and that all spaces are well day lit, well ventilated and enjoy views across the playing fields. Stimulating, varied and sheltered outdoor quads could be created in the spaces between the fingers.
Idea one is to arrange the learning areas at right angles along an east west spine corridor. The main entrance might be situated at the west end of the spine, and sports facilities grouped near the Bunyan Sports Centre at the east end of the spine. This plan would give most classrooms an east or west orientation, so that they only ever get morning or afternoon sun, and are less likely to overheat in the summer.
Idea two uses a similar organisational principle to idea one, but with the spine running from north to south on the site. Classrooms would generally face north and south. The advantage of this idea is that the main entrance would be more prominent and closer to Mile Road. The main dining space, Library, Hall and main office could all be grouped around a quad attached to the main entrance.
Idea three is based around the idea of a central ‘street’ which runs from east to west across the site. The street might include resource, social, casual dining and display spaces as well as circulation. Learning areas could be arranged at right angles to the street to allow classrooms to face east and west, while spaces such as the sports hall, workshops, and music rooms (which are less likely to overheat) could be situated on the south side of the street.