Architects Steve Westcott and Viola Maffessanti speak to Architects Datafile about The Kingston Academy…

Architects Datafile - April / May 2020

Old School Meets New School

A historic school in Kingston upon Thames has added a contemporary extension providing new functions on a constricted site. Jack Wooler speaks to Viola Maffessanti and Steve Westcott, associates at project architects astudio, on how they achieved this.

The £15m Kingston Academy ‘regeneration’ and extension project has been completed – the astudio-designed project intended to both enhance an historic building it also occupies, while expanding it’s function through new and flexible spaces.

Through contrasting with the 1880-build brick building (arranged around a quadrangle), the extension takes influence from its existing counterpart and the local vernacular. Its red and brick-hued external panels in particular are designed to reflect the surrounding buildings.

Besides its bright, patchwork panels that display a gradient from red to white, the most notable visual feature on the approach to the finished Academy’s façade is the extensive glazing incorporated.

This provides a significant level of daylighting, and allows for long sight lines across the school, helping to illuminate and connect the flexible spaces the architects have created.

These were among the school’s key goals – with astudio working closely with the client to ensure that these aims were delivered in what was a constricted site.

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