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There
are many examples of well-designed schools. But
there is a feeling that the standard of design
in public buildings generally has been lower than
it should be. In the publication, Better Public
Buildings, the Government spelt out its commitment
to good design.
Buildings have the power to bring about a change
in social behaviour, leading in turn to changes
in attitude. A well-designed school can serve
its users well and draw a more positive attitude
from parents and the wider community. This is
particularly relevant to inclusion.
A DfEE study in 1999 which looked at the impact
of capital investment on pupil performance showed
clear evidence that improvements raised morale
of both staff and pupils and assisted with staff
retention (Building Performance. An empirical
assessment of the relationship between schools
capital investment and pupil performance, carried
out by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the DfEE).
The Commission for Architecture and the Built
Environment (CABE) was set up by the Government
in 1999 to help improve the quality of design
being delivered through new buildings and spaces.
It runs a range of programmes that provide assistance
to clients and comment on designs. Good design
is more than a
beautiful facade, and involves
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Design
quality has been defined as a combination of:
•
Functionality;
•
Sustainability;
•
Buildability;
•
Efficiency;
•
Aesthetics;
•
Durability.
All these apply as much to schools as other building
types. They are key to achieving better value for
money for all concerned. One of these issues - sustainability
- is particularly important at a time when there
is growing awareness of environmental responsibility.
The aim of sustainable construction is for buildings
to have a low impact on the environment, in terms
of energy and water use, materials, waste, transport,
site ecology, health and safety and internal environmental
conditions. Schools of the future must be designed
to avoid wasted investment through early and rapid
obsolescence. They need to have a long functional
life, demonstrating good value for money in terms
of life cycle costs.
The issues of buildability and efficiency were addressed
in the 'Rethinking Construction' report of 1998.
The report recommended, amongst other things, that
the building process should aim to: |
