Bosmere Junior School

Bosmere Junior School

A middle school, now junior school, designed in 1981–1982 and built 1982–1983 by Hampshire County Council Architect's Department. The job architects were Nev Churcher, Peter Galloway and Mervyn Perkins.

The building is constructed from a mixture of brick cavity wall and laminated timber frame. Skylights and extensive areas of glazing are held in slender red-painted metal frames, while elsewhere timber joinery is used for windows, glazed screens and clerestory lights. The roofs are slated or glazed.

The building is single-storey with a linear footprint featuring a gentle double curve running north to south, composed of a series of facets. Its plan has a distinctive 'tadpole' form, with the head containing the hall, kitchen and administration positioned to the south, and a glazed entrance link with teaching 'tail' extending to the north.

An open corridor or 'street' runs the length of the teaching area. To the west of this street are enclosed rooms for messier or practical activities. To the east, at a slightly higher level, is a sequence of informal spaces for smaller group activity and quiet working, now also used for computer work. Most of this area is unenclosed but separated from the street by the change in level. Along the east edge are the classrooms, each opening towards the copse on this side of the site.

The building's section forms a double pitch, split at the apex by a continuous double-glazed rooflight. This sectional form is manipulated along the school's length to accommodate the variety of floor levels and room depths.

The sinuous footprint and tight site mean only a relatively small part of the building is visible at any one time. It is low-slung and visually dominated by the large roof, which overhangs at eaves and verges. Much of the structural arrangement is expressed externally through the planes and angles of the roof, exposed elements of the structural frame, and the continuation of the internal street wall, which emerges at the north end and continues as a semi-boundary between two parts of the school's play area. The glazed roof of the conservatory-like main entrance and reception space creates a visual break between the slated roofs and brick walls of adjoining spaces. The long west elevation is brick and largely blank except for narrow high-level windows, whereas the east elevation has doors and windows leading from each classroom. The doors, windows and cream-coloured sheet panels infilling spaces between the structural frame on this side have been replaced, though the character and pattern remain close to the original. Perkins' extension to the north is almost indistinguishable from the original part inside and out. At the far south end is a fire escape stair from the staff room (matching an internal one) and a small service yard with store.

The interior is rich with architectural detail. The formal entrance is a composed space combining paviours, low brick walls, glazed roof, planting and bright red doors with circular panes. A tight spiral staircase in bright red leads up to an open-sided bridge giving access to the staff room over the administrative offices. 'Street lights' with white glass globe shades continue from this space into the street in the teaching area. This space is open to the underside of the roof and animated by changes in level and the gentle curves of the plan, which shorten sightlines and moderate acoustics. Much of the dark-stained structural framework is exposed, with surfaces finished in a mixture of red brick and natural timber boarding creating variety and texture, offset by light entering at high level through skylights and clerestory glazing. Enclosed spaces such as classrooms and practical rooms are separated from the building's core by glazed screens.