Design Champions: Pelham Primary
30.11.16
Great design enhances life. It should make things easier for us, but it should also engage with us at an emotional level. Pelham Primary school, in South West London is a great example of this. A brand new building, designed by Haverstock architects, transformed the school from a cosy, 1960s build into something not only … Continued
Great design enhances life. It should make things easier for us, but it should also engage with us at an emotional level.
Pelham Primary school, in South West London is a great example of this. A brand new building, designed by Haverstock architects, transformed the school from a cosy, 1960s build into something not only larger, (to accommodate the growing number of primary-aged children in the area,) but also one that is more fit for purpose in the 21st century.
As a safety precaution, bollards have been placed along the pavement, outside the entrance to the school. But rather than using ordinary metal or concrete, the designers chose to make these into larger-than-life pencils.
At a System 1 level, this is great way to implicitly communicate to passersby that school children might be around – but it’s also eye-catching and light-hearted. They capture a sense of life, colour and fun. And they certainly made me smile as I walked past on my way to work!