A project to provide a new early years playgroup building.

The project for the Diocese of Shrewsbury was completed June 2010.

Front north view to entrance

The building consists of a simple open plan space over looking the existing out door play area. The main space is complemented by a series of smaller spaces in the form of wc’s, quiet room, store rooms and a kitchen area.

It was intended that the simple building layout would create an inspiring, exciting and fun learning environment.

The space implements passive natural ventilation, natural day lighting and increased levels of insulation. This combined with a highly efficient underfloor air source heat pump heating system reduced the play group consumption of fossil fuels.

Open plan children's WC facilities

A perforated structural ceiling deck was employed to reduce internal acoustic reverberation while also achieving the tight budget.

Internal view to group room and covered outdoor play area

In summer the doors can be folded back to provide a shared outdoor/indoor space. The overhanging roof also provided solar shading to the main space.

The roof form has also been designed and orientated to enable rain water to be collected and potentially reused for gardening.