Alfriston School, a secondary school for pupils with special educational needs, is located outside London, on the edge of a residential neighbourhood. The existing school building is organised as linear cluster, running from the street to the vegetation in the rear, with small-scale gabled roofs of varying orientation. To its north a new swimming pool structure with expressive crown docks onto a sports hall with steep pitched roofs. Dark-grey rendered wall and plinth surfaces and, in the longitudinal elevation, corresponding sloping roofs tie this new sports complex together. Mature trees provide a screen to the schoolyard.
The architects view the roof geometry, which consists of serial and interlocking pitched-roof elements, as a contemporary interpretation of the roofs present nearby. Inside, the sculptural form creates a ceiling with a wave-like roofscape. The ceiling also serves an acoustic purpose: it reduces the noise level – thereby fulfilling an important requirement from the client’s brief. A band of glass just one metre in height accentuates the roof.
To guarantee precise execution and high-quality surfaces, the architects decided to have the panels produced off site. There was only one exception: due to its size, it was necessary to construct a gable element on site. Through the use of 3D modelling, in combination with 5-axis CNC milling, it was possible to secure a high degree of fitting accuracy with small dimensional tolerances; mock-ups were employed to test individual joints.
The architects view the roof geometry, which consists of serial and interlocking pitched-roof elements, as a contemporary interpretation of the roofs present nearby. Inside, the sculptural form creates a ceiling with a wave-like roofscape. The ceiling also serves an acoustic purpose: it reduces the noise level – thereby fulfilling an important requirement from the client’s brief. A band of glass just one metre in height accentuates the roof.
To guarantee precise execution and high-quality surfaces, the architects decided to have the panels produced off site. There was only one exception: due to its size, it was necessary to construct a gable element on site. Through the use of 3D modelling, in combination with 5-axis CNC milling, it was possible to secure a high degree of fitting accuracy with small dimensional tolerances; mock-ups were employed to test individual joints.