Ok, think about it for a minute. Would school have been more fun if it was conducted in the tree tops? The kids at the Elleray Preparatory School in Lake District National Park in Windermere, UK will be the first to find out.

The new school was designed and built by Kita Design Company. Individual classrooms were created as a series of self-sufficient pods, each equipped with a set of solar panels used to power the classroom lights. Each pod is comprised of a ribbed timber frame encased with English chestnut shingles that rests on a series of Douglas-fir stilts. The deck that connects the three main classroom pods is made of recycled plastic milk bottles and wood shavings, and will double as an outdoor classroom in the summer.

Why the School is a Cool Eco-Project

The Environmental Assessment Method for Buildings Around the World, BREEAM, has given the building an “excellent” rating based on the recycled, low-impact architecture and design. The heating and cooling systems run on a ground-source heat pump, and the school also collects rainwater to reduce potable water use. Off season, this eco-conscious structure will be used as a gallery and event venue. Now that is out-of-the-box thinking — creating an eco-conscious structure with multiple uses!

Designer Rob Gaukroger waved his fees for the design of the unique school building, and the project took 3 years to complete. He did most of the work himself, along with a small team of eco-passionate helpers.

Eco-Friendly Trends for Building Remodels

Gaukroger also has a few interesting ideas about future trends for green building. He claims , ”Up-cycling is the way forward. There are many buildings from the 60s, 70s and 80s made of concrete that are not considered worth saving. However, with some careful thought, a lot of insulation and some designer flair, these building can be saved from land fill and given a new beginning. By insulating existing concrete buildings on the outside, it creates a thermal mass from the existing concrete structure and completely changes how they react and perform thermally.”

It will be interesting to see how future architects utilize new, creative ways to “update” certain structures, or create fresh designs that truly act as an asset to the environment surrounding  a building or home — whether that is in a city, the county, suburbia etc. Clearly its a unique challenge for builders and architects to remain head of the curve, and continue to meet all aspects of ever-changing consumer and environmental needs.

Katrina Pfannkuch

Buzzword Communications, LLC
About the author: Katrina Pfannkuch is a writer, Reiki Master and entrepreneur who lives to write and create. She started Buzzword Communications to pursue her passion for excellence in communication and satisfy her entrepreneurial spirit.

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