Studio Architects: NEW RESIDENTIAL BLOCK

The Marchant-Holliday School has occupied a large Edwardian building at North Cheriton since 1952 and provides accommodation for boys aged 6-12 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties, referred by Education Authorities and Social Services Department throughout the country.

The new residential wing represents the first phase of the redevelopment and was completed in April 2004. This provides sleeping accommodation for 12 boys in 1 and 2 person bedrooms, each with en-suite showers, and a sleep-in staff bedroom. Two social rooms are provided together with dining facilities. Ancillary accommodations consists of matron’s office, sewing room, laundry, boys cloakroom, general toilet areas for boys and staff, and storage rooms.

The Edwardian country-house style provided a starting point for generating the concept of a ‘home’ atmosphere for the boys, which has been developed by maintaining low-storey heights within bedrooms, and simple but robust fittings and finishes. Natural daylight has been maximised within the social spaces.

The new wing responds to the style of the original building with a celebration of natural materials for the external envelope, which have been used honestly to compose elevations with identity, and generate a sustainable starting point for the treatment of the future buildings.

The second phase involved refurbishment and conversion of the Main House residential accommodation to provide single rooms for 18 boys to equivalent standards achieved in the Phase 1 new-build. This work completes the ‘home’ part of the School and the next phase will concentrate on redevelopment of teaching facilities to provide the ‘school’ element.