Innovation of the year

Atelier Ten
Runner-up in this category last year, Atelier Ten has gone one better in 2000, taking the winning place for its design of a sustainable primary school.

Designed in conjunction with architect AHMM, Notley Green School, Essex resulted from a Design Council-sponsored competition to develop a model for a single form entry primary school which uses sustainable principles from inception to completion. Target energy use was set at 40-50% of standard.

The building was completed with an uplift of 6% of a basic DFEE budget. It is single-storey with a triangular plan, which enabled rationalisation of circulation areas to increase classroom sizes while maintaining a relatively low surface area.

Daylighting and natural ventilation are used throughout, with all classrooms having a daylight factor over 6%, achieved by externally shaded glass on the south facade and north rooflights to balance the light level without glare. Corridors are lit and ventilated through light pipes. High level glazing and operable rooflight panels ensure draught-free summer ventilation.

The design showed good innovation in an important area

Judges’ comment

The school has been chosen as a Millennium Product. Atelier Ten has since been appointed to design two further schools.

the runners-up...

Atelier Ten
Yes you are reading correctly, not only did Atelier Ten actually win this category, it achieved a runners-up place for a second innovation, its thermal storage labyrinth.

The labyrinth is an integrated underground system of concrete and blockwork walls which exchange heat with air passing through the system, providing long-term decoupled thermal storage for conditioning large spaces.