A new building has recently been completed in The Heathland School after two years of careful planning and preparation, which is an incredible step towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future for schools, and in general.
The Wellbeing Centre , which has mentoring rooms and classrooms to aid the mental health of students, was built almost entirely out of recycled and repurposed materials.
For example, the foundations of the building are made of old rubber tires and recycled railway sleepers, which are both visible under the timber frame.
The most fascinating though, must be that the walls and primary infrastructure are constructed purely out of straw, obtained from a local farm in Osterley, making the process even more sustainable.
The straw bales were joined with willow twigs, and coated in traditional lime render, which the School of Natural Building came to assist with.
Interestingly, there are glass panels inside the building that allow you to see the compacted straw within the walls, which is an amazing reminder that even the interior is recycled.
The building functions completely carbon neutrally, as the timber framed doors and windows are extremely strong and help with insulation, and much of the energy is conserved to be energy efficient.
Furthermore, the roof is equipped with solar panels to generate sustainable energy, and even has an array of plants - yes, growing on the roof!
The most beautiful part is indeed the sensory garden outside, landscaped and constructed to appeal to the senses.
Not only are the plants expertly placed in wooden planters, but the flowers are also meticulously picked for their natural sounds, smells, and looks.
For instance, there is lavender aromatic planting, to soothe and calm the wanderers of the garden.
Also, there are bat and bird nesting boxes erected between the wooden planters and benches, encouraging wildlife.
Finally, the entire build is self watering.
Rainwater is collected in barrels and then recycled and redirected to the roof and garden plants, allowing the building to be even more sustainable (and even cooler).
The Wellbeing Centre is indeed an important example of efforts done to better and help the environment, showcasing how easy it actually can be.
Who knows? Perhaps in the future all our schools and infrastructure will be carbon neutral, taking this building as a lesson.
