Clapham Park

The Clapham Park Youth Centre is a scheme which provides new facilities for pupils and parents at a Grade II listed Victorian primary school in Brixton.

This project involved the demolition of an existing dining hall, an external staircase and some outbuildings, the refurbishment of the existing Schoolkeeper’s House and the construction of a new single storey Learning Centre at Richard Atkins Primary School.
The Learning Centre enables the school to offer all the facilities of wrap-around care throughout the extended school day under one roof.

The breakfast club was originally held in a small room in the Schoolkeeper’s House. The number of children who could be catered for was restricted. The new building now enables the school to provide breakfast for a larger group of children, and in particular, targets vulnerable children who come to school without any breakfast. The Centre now has crèche facilities so there will be learning opportunities available to parents of young children.

The project is part of a wider neighbourhood regeneration scheme and is designed to offer support to parents and their families. The new school hall is hired out to local community groups for events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties, aerobics classes etc.

The design process involved close dialogue with the local planning and conservation departments which has resulted in a simple modern building contrasting with the robust brick detailing of the Victorian buildings.