The scheme for LB Hammersmith and Fulham provides new mixed-tenure homes, 50% of which are affordable, and a new primary school on a 0.4-hectare site near Kensington Station. Through the council’s Community Schools Programme, the affordable and private homes help meet local authority housing targets while funding the cost of the new school. BPTW led the overall project and the design of the residential buildings and collaborated with school architects Walters & Cohen, who created the one-form-entry primary school.

BPTW’s site layout positioned the school centrally and the new homes flanking the school on both sides to maintain a sense of community with neighbouring apartment buildings. The school and two residential buildings range in height from three to six storeys to respond to the scale and proportion of the surrounding streets and dense urban environment. The efficient site arrangement accommodates 240 school pupils whilst providing ample space for a school playground. The local vernacular of mansion blocks helped inform the proposed design, inspiring the façades and brick-led material palette.

The scheme benefited from an extensive stakeholder engagement process which consulted local community groups, school leaders, students and parents, the council’s inclusive design forum and neighbourhood residents over four public events and numerous individual meetings.

Avonmore will be a net-zero development designed to achieve a 74% reduction in operational carbon and a 26% contribution to a carbon offset fund. Other sustainable features include green roofs on all buildings, new tree planting in the community and 100 new solar panels. The school achieves BREEAM Excellent Standards.