The booklet, The Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative Design Competition, published last week, features the four winning designs and seven commended entries by 11 teams who had been shortlisted to develop concept designs for three sites in the London borough of Bexley, Bury in Greater Manchester and Sheffield, south Yorkshire. The winning architect practices are Birds Portchmouth Russum (Bexley), dsdha (Bury) and both Panter Hudspith Architects and Walters and Cohen (Sheffield).
The competition was jointly organised by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) in April 2001. It received 98 submissions from architectural practices.
CABE said the booklet would be particularly useful for architects, planners and local authorities planning to build or refurbish childcare centres, but that it also had a wider relevance to teachers, children and parents. Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate Gallery and chair of the judging panel, said the booklet showed 'how relatively modest funds can transform the caring, play and learning potential of nurseries'.
He said, 'We want to inspire the people who will be creating the next wave of buildings for pre-school children by showing them what can be achieved when intelligent and forward-thinking clients employ imaginative and innovative architects.'
In Bexley a local authority corporate group has been established to oversee the progress and development of the nursery, along with other DfES nurseries. Bury Metropolitan Borough Council is soon to formally appoint dsdha architects to build the first nursery to be funded jointly by the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative and Early Excellence Centres.
In Sheffield the Neighbourhood Nursery will be a catalyst for the regeneration of Firth Park in the city by expanding its childcare services. Sheffield County Council is to appoint a full-time project worker to co-ordinate the various elements of the scheme, including funding options.
Copies of the booklet are available from the DfES Disadvantaged Areas Team (020 7273 5192).
