GREAT BARR SCHOOL

The project involved the design of a new music teaching department together with a reconfigured main entrance for the school.

The brief called for four large classroom bases supported by shared group practice and ensemble rooms, alongside dedicated recording and music technology facilities for advanced level students.

The new building was conceived as a natural extension to the school’s original 1950s teaching wing, arranged to form and overlook a new enclosed courtyard that provides a quieter and more focused learning environment.

The architectural language responds to the creative nature of the department. Splayed walls, over-sailing roof planes and a restrained palette of primary colours combine to create a warm and engaging architectural character within an otherwise modest setting.

As part of the wider commission, the school sought to address the previously bland and indistinct main entrance and reception. A new extension was designed to create a welcoming and clearly identifiable point of arrival for the campus.

A curved timber external wall and projecting roof canopy guide visitors into the entrance while providing shelter from prevailing winds. Internally, a sequence of soft curves continues through the space, creating a natural flow of movement while allowing clear lines of sight for reception and supervision.