The Rooftop Nursery, London
- Client: The Learning Trust
- Principal designer: WHAT_architecture
- Principal engineer: Michael Hadi Associates
- Principal contractor: Sandwood Construction
- Contract value: £330,000
About the project
This nursery replaces a derelict house used by crack dealers. Built as part of the UK's Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, the centre aims to provide affordable pre-school care for working mothers in the low-income neighbourhood of Clapton, east London.
To make the most of a confined site, the architects created the first granulated rubber play roof in the UK. And as the budget was limited, they used the cheapest materials available: the structure is made of concrete breeze blocks and the kitchen is from Ikea.
A lack of fixed internal walls further reduced costs. Sliding partitions and floor-to-ceiling curtains divide the interior into 50 potential configurations. And instead of using expensive cladding, the architects simply painted the building. The bright colour scheme was chosen by local residents and nursery staff, and then digitally sampled from local foliage.
The local community voted The Rooftop Nursery first place in the Hackney Design Awards, and in the adjacent Benthal Primary School, the student roll is increasing after years of decline.
The judges said: 'An ingenious and cheerful use of roof space. A good reminder that the fifth elevation can be used!'
