Preston South Primary School
- Bricks
- Krause Classic 76mm Bricks in Heritage Red
- Design
- Kerstin Thompson Architects
- Build
- AMP Group
- Photos
- Thurston Empsom
Setting a new benchmark for sustainable education design, Preston South Primary School seamlessly blends high-performance architecture with profound civic consciousness. Driven by a commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Kerstin Thompson Architects delivered a three-storey facility built to rigorous Passivhaus standards. The compact, vertical design maximises the tight campus footprint, offering highly adaptable learning neighbourhoods that prioritise student well-being and environmental responsibility.
To ground this innovative, future-focused facility within its historical context, the design team turned to traditional materiality. Classic 76mm Krause Bricks in a Heritage Red blend were selected to honour the surrounding suburban terrace houses and the site’s original fabric. The tactile red brickwork forms striking party walls and robust exterior piers, cleverly managing sunlight while providing a warm, welcoming entryway that visually connects the campus back to its community.
"The indoor environment prioritised long-term health and well-being, emphasising connections between indoor and outdoor spaces, ample natural light, outside air provision, and the use of natural materials with low embodied energy."
By pairing the low embodied energy of our bespoke masonry with forward-thinking Passivhaus principles, Preston South Primary School achieves an exceptional balance of heritage sensitivity and environmental innovation. It is a stunning educational sanctuary built to inspire the next generation.
