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Architects: Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects
- Year: 2011
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Photographs:Robert Greshoff
Text description provided by the architects. The proposals for Tidemill Academy are part of a visionary concept to combine a replacement primary school with the Deptford Lounge - a new state-of-the-art district library which also provides new community facilities. The new Academy benefits from increased space and facilities achieved through combining uses with the wider community, in a physically and socially integrated environment. The ambitious nature of this co-location of capital projects has won the scheme an addition £5m from the DCSF’s co-location fund.
Tidemill Academy at the centre of the site wraps around a courtyard playspace, of which the Deptford Lounge forms one wing. During the school day the shared facilities are isolated from the public, and are open only via the school, but out of school hours they form an integral part of the community library facilities. The library is thus designed to allow for dual school and community use.
Major shared facilities between the Lounge and Tidemill Academy include a suite of school/ community halls, a rooftop ball court, and kitchen/refectory. These have separate access points from within the school and from the public realm.
On the far side of the courtyard Resolution Studios – which provides 38 affordable apartments, and studios and exhibition space for local businesses and artists – rises above the school and provides a funding contribution in return for the use of air space over the school.
