Empathise and engage

If there’s one thing we’ve learned makes better buildings, it’s empathy. Architecture never happens in isolation—and simply by being interested and engaged, we’ve found it’s possible to open up the conversations that connect a scheme to its clients and community.

Weconstraints

We believe that the more constraints there are, the better the architecture. If there aren’t any constraints, we create them. Challenging sites, existing buildings and complex briefs almost always present incredible opportunities for great design.

Passive future

To limit our environmental impact, we start with what is already there. By manipulating the form and fabric of a building—whether new or existing—we can work with the existing conditions of topography, light and orientation, and harness the natural energy sources offered by air, ground and water.

Social detail

If a site’s constraints guide the bigger design decisions, then it’s empathy that informs the smaller, social details. These details frame the human narratives that aren’t included in the brief, anticipating specific moments in the users’ lives.

Mud on our boots

Good architecture is as much about what happens on the building site as it is about what’s on the drawing board. By working alongside contractors as well as clients we can ring-fence the ideas and details that matter, championing quality and sustainability throughout construction.

Celebrating Alfreton Park Community Special School
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Work
  • Alfreton Park Community Special School

  • Alfreton, Derbyshire

Client
  • Derbyshire County Council

  • Alfreton Park Community Special School

Awards
  • RIBA National Award 2024

  • RIBA East Midlands Awards 2024, Regional Award

  • RIBA East Midlands Awards 2024, Building of the Year Award

  • RIBA East Midlands Awards 2024, Project Architect of the Year Award, Wayne Head

  • RIBA East Midlands Awards 2024, Client of the Year, Derbyshire County Council

  • Civic Trust Awards 2024, Winner

  • Civic Trust Awards 2024, Special Award for Education, Winner

  • Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design 2024, Regional Finalist

  • ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards 2024, Nominee

  • Education Estates Awards 2024, Inclusive Design Project of the Year

  • The Bricks Awards 2024, Sustainable Development, Winner

  • MacEwan Award 2025, Architecture for the Common Good, Shortlisted

  • Architect’s Journal Architecture Awards 2023, School Category, Winner

Booklet

Alfreton Park is a special educational needs and disabilities all-through school, in which all pupils and staff strive to create a secure, welcoming and inclusive learning environment. The site is located close to a cluster of buildings and institutions that provide care to people of Derbyshire with Special Needs, forming a campus-like family of nurturing buildings within a park setting.

From its raised position on the natural ridge of land running down the centre of the tree-lined site, the low-lying, contextual building blends into the landscape through following the natural contours of the site and using subtly coloured treated zinc cladding.

A simple and efficient single storey pitched roof section is used throughout, a generator for elegance in its setting, creating open and light internal spaces for activities ranging from trampolining to physiotherapy. Each classroom has sheltered play space, and carefully placed internal classroom screens allow consistent views to the tree-lined parkland surrounds. These design decisions endeavour to provide an enriching learning environment connecting the pupils to nature.

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  • > Inclusivity statement

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