Built in the garden of a long established former city farm in the middle of Georgian Liverpool, the new building is intended to provide facilities for teaching children sustainability, energy conservation and healthy eating.

The innovative building is highly insulated with only one chief elevation which faces south. to maximise passive solar heat gain. .

Solar thermal panels, air to air heat pumps provide hot water for the underfloor heating and also for the hot water.

Heat recovery on the ventilation system reduces heat losses on the rare occasions when the mechanical ventilation is required.

Photovoltaics provide electricity to the air to air heat pump and also provide general electricity, the excess being sold back to the grid..

Rainwater is harvested and stored for reuse in flushing toilets. Washbasin taps are controlled by electronic switches.

Lighting is all low energy fittings and controlled by proximity switches.whch sense whether rooms are occupied or not.

Full height sliding doors on the south side allow access to the garden and balcony.

The new primary school repaces an existing school building which dated from the 1960's and a study established that it was not suitable for a long term future. The new school on the same site sits next to the existing which was demolished after completion.
The concept of the new building develops the practice's concern with the use of natural light and the flow of space within the school. This is married to the contiuous development of a sustainable approach particularly in this case to the use of natural ventilation and cooling.

The classrooms are arranged on either side of a rooflit atrium which provides daylight to the centre of the building.

The classrooms are separated from the central area by robust folding/sliding screens which can be opened to link the areas together when teaching situations require it.

High insulation allied with a range of sustainability and energy saving features ensure that this building has a low environmental impact. These include controlled natural ventilation, timber construction and external doors and windows,, rainwater harvesting and low energy lighting systems

The project was completed in September 2007 at an approximate cost of £2,300,000.