Forest classrooms, Windermere, UK by Robert Gaukroger

Cool, special classrooms for kids, i bet they like them.

An environmental classroom with no windows or skylights?! Or am i missing something?

beautiful - yes. But no windows! No Windows!

not only does that cut the connection with the nature surrounding the pod, but surely it must seem like you’re stuck inside a drainpipe, and how are the lights powered? the stilts for heat control design are great but with half the year in Northern England so gloomy, they’ll need to burn the lights all day - unnatural and wasteful of resources…

Mr Fopboy - Taking on board your comments… there is a part of me that sort of agrees with you on the windows… I am a fan of the natural light… But, these are ‘classrooms’ at the end of the day. The children need to focus on the subject in hand and not be distracted by what’s going on outside that space. Also, if it is ’so gloomy’ up North… why have windows?

The space inside is far from ‘drainpipe’ like and when was the last time you went into a school environment without the lights on? Whatever the season… There aren’t many that thrive on natural light.

What a wonderful attempt at changing attitudes toward educational spaces… Robert needs a gold star for just getting this through, what I would imagine, was a political maze. What a brave step by designer and decision makers at the school. How exciting for the children. Inspirational!!!

I have used the spaces and you would be pleasantly suprised, the daylighting is even and as most of the class day is 9am to 3pm the natural light is a good balance, you may need to read the code for sustainable buildings and you will find glazing a fine balance.

There is no light without dark, a wise man once told me.

Dear Mr Gaukroger
I woiuld just like to say what a wonderful design of space and light enhancing both natural materials and the students short life at school they will always have a talking point about there school days. You and your team should be very proud of this project children for years to come will enjoy and remember there time in the class room in the forest.

Looks good but agree about the windows. Natural light is far better, no matter how little you get.

Also, what about disabled access? I can’t see anywhere for a wheelchair user to get access.

Mr Matt. I visited the building last week and disabled access is in place with a ramp connecting to the pods, What do you mean about natural light, when i was there, the daylight from both elevations was very good, i suggest you take a train journey to Windermere, its only a five min walk from the station.

Very Cool, the guy living in the house next door told me the budget was only 250k.

The best Classroom I have ever seen, beautiful.

I’ve never seen better Classrooms than these! what an amazing and brilliant place for children to go to school in, a friend of ours whose children will be going here sent me the links.

I’ve just showed the pics to my little boy and his face lit up! the Pods are Wonderful, they make me want to go back in time 30 odd years!

Nice One!

Well Done,

AL S.

I went to the school and its brilliant, but what a shame all the designer furniture seems to have been replaced with what seems to be old office furniture and there was rubbish every where. I presume the Architects have handed it over and it’s been run by someone with no idea.