Squire & Partners LLP

St James DT Block

St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner

St James DT Block

Squire and Partners

PHOTOS
Gareth Gardner

STATUS
Built

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Ashford, United Kingdom

TYPE
Educational › High School

St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner

Occupying an area within the St James School grounds previously home to an ad hoc collection of sheds and storage units, the new Design Technology block was designed to accommodate 20 students and two teaching staff as well as an office, plant and storeroom.

St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner

Taking inspiration from the craftsmanship and simple technology of timber-frame buildings in the southeast of England, the simple building envelope is clad in a black vertical weatherboard and cover strip system, within which we detailed a concealed gutter and flush pyramidal roof-light, ensuring the purity of the building form was not compromised.

The dark external cladding provides a striking contrast to the light Douglas Fir timber interior. 

Here, traditional pegged mortise and tenon joints of the timber frame are counterpoised by steel hex-head fixings and sheets of birch-faced ply panels lining the walls, balancing tradition and modernity.

St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner

The honesty of construction and robust interior provide a simple and practical backdrop for the workshop activities within.


St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner
St James DT Block
© Gareth Gardner

Squire & Partners LLP
T +44 20 72785555
Squire & Partners LLP
248 Ferndale Rd, London SW9 8FR, United Kingdom