Chobham Academy
A new all age academy adjacent to East Village, formerly the Athletes Village within the London Olympic site. Located between the remnants of Epping Forest and the River Lea, the concept is a school in a forest - with an ecology transect across the playgrounds from high forest through wildflower meadow to wet woodland.
The academy specialises in Performing Arts and English and the external spaces were designed to support this, providing flexible spaces for learning, performing and growing. A grid of circles was overlaid onto the site where were cut into creating raised negative and positive shapes for seating, gathering and play.
The sports facilities, with ballcourts, tennis courts and cricket nets, accessed by a raised forested landform and pedestrian bridge over Temple Mill Lane which cuts through the site.
Whilst at Kinnear Landscape Architects / 2008 / Newham / client: ODA+LendLease / value: £4.4m / size: 4.5ha / architect: AHMM / engineers: AKT, Arup