Community Schools: Designing for sustainability, wellbeing and inclusion

By: Helen Taylor

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Synopsis: Schools have the potential to empower communities by connecting people better with the places they live. But how can these benefits be baked into a design brief? As complex institutions, schools not only provide education and pastoral care for children, as they grow and develop, but also act as workplaces for staff and civic assets or hubs for the wider community. Yet they're not often perceived to be critical infrastructure. Community Schools　reconsiders what is required from physical school environments, building on the learning gathered from the sector over the past two decades. To meet the new social, environmental and economic challenges it advocates designing differently, both in terms of the form that buildings take and the evaluation of their impact and performance. By calling for a reframing of the way that schools are regarded as community-wide amenities, this book explores the potential for architects to deliver design in a manner that supports healthy lifestyles and promotes wellbeing. Through encouraging social connections, new possibilities open up for educational facilities to become open, welcoming and inclusive. Featuring: Over 12 international case studies from practices including: Architype, Argyll + Bute, Bogle Architects, DRMM, Revaerk, Scott Brownrigg and XDGA Key themes of wellbeing, connectivity, inclusion, indicators and evaluation Practical guidance and learning points throughout A new design brief for community schools