Sixth Form House, Benenden School

The new building brought together two new sixth form houses around a shared common room and ICT space. The plan, with its study bedrooms arranged around staircases and shared kitchenettes, deliberately echoes Higher Education accommodation formats making for an easy transition to university life. The new building proved immensely popular and a second phase swiftly followed creating a whole new enclave of the school dedicated to sixth formers.

The site is in parkland within the High Weald AONB in Kent. The palette of natural materials – warm red brickwork, self-weathering hardwood and terne-coated roofing allowed the building to sit comfortably in the historic landscape.