Hi Guys,
I believe this may be a first on 28DL.
Met up with DubbedNavigator and Andrew B and we hatched a plan to visit 9 derelict places in the East-End before the meet, and this was our only success, but what a techni-coloured gem.
I’m not a huge fan of post war architecture, however this has to be an example of a 50s school design where they got it right.
History
The school was original known as Cardinal Griffin School, until 1991. The school was designed by the Architect David Stokes and built on the site of a former catholic church which was bombed in the war.
The foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Westminster and the school opened in September 1951.
Architecturally the design is very interesting, the classrooms were laid out in the ‘finger plan’ style to the north of the site to allow for landscaping of the south, providing a pleasant environment and open space for the local residents. In addition the internal spaces of the class rooms were kept free of load bearing walls, so that the design of the school could be more easily changed in the future. In and around the main entrance the building featured lots of coloured glazing & renderings, and the top corridor/roof is constructed from repetitive bulky columns and rafters; all of which echo back to the orriginal gothic cathoilic church.
The school was mainly built with in-situ concrete and was completed on time and within budget, and was therefore seen as a small triumph over ‘pre-cast’ structures which epitomised post war Britain.
The school also featured in the film: One Wish Too Many in 1956.
Today
The site is vacant and awaits demolition for 490 new houses.
Regards,
I believe this may be a first on 28DL.
Met up with DubbedNavigator and Andrew B and we hatched a plan to visit 9 derelict places in the East-End before the meet, and this was our only success, but what a techni-coloured gem.
I’m not a huge fan of post war architecture, however this has to be an example of a 50s school design where they got it right.
History
The school was original known as Cardinal Griffin School, until 1991. The school was designed by the Architect David Stokes and built on the site of a former catholic church which was bombed in the war.
The foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of Westminster and the school opened in September 1951.
Architecturally the design is very interesting, the classrooms were laid out in the ‘finger plan’ style to the north of the site to allow for landscaping of the south, providing a pleasant environment and open space for the local residents. In addition the internal spaces of the class rooms were kept free of load bearing walls, so that the design of the school could be more easily changed in the future. In and around the main entrance the building featured lots of coloured glazing & renderings, and the top corridor/roof is constructed from repetitive bulky columns and rafters; all of which echo back to the orriginal gothic cathoilic church.
The school was mainly built with in-situ concrete and was completed on time and within budget, and was therefore seen as a small triumph over ‘pre-cast’ structures which epitomised post war Britain.
The school also featured in the film: One Wish Too Many in 1956.
Today
The site is vacant and awaits demolition for 490 new houses.
The Plans
Regards,
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