Project Outline

The remotely located school was identified as being in urgent need of replacement due to cramped and unsuitable learning conditions. A bright, new, healthy one-form-entry primary school with adjacent nursery has been delivered. Taking inspiration from the Welsh hillside location, the multi-level scheme nestles comfortably into the steep site with materials that reflect the areas heritage and landscape.

The prominent hilltop site required a sympathetic design approach for planning. Alongside this, careful consideration was given to the phased construction and safe user access through the build programme, as pupils continued to attend the adjacent existing school.

A natural palette of materials creates a subtle and elegant aesthetic. Elevations have been finished in a mix of slate tiles to reflect the areas heritage in slate production, paired with Welsh larch and a sedum roof in support of the local supply chain and low carbon credentials. The timber structure is domestically grown Welsh timber frame.

Ysgol Trimsaran is an exemplar learning environment, creating an uplifting learning space that is rooted to its community through a thoughtful design process. The new school has encouraged a sense of pride within the community, offering a place where people can come together and where pupils want to learn. The scale and flexibility of spaces has allowed teachers to execute different teaching methods that were previously not possible. The design of the school strongly supports the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

Educational Studies/Post-Project Review

The first year of post occupancy monitoring shows Ysgol Trimsaran to be using less than half of the primary energy of a comparison school designed to meet building regulations only.