The team at Jonathan Tuckey Design are delighted to announce that the Horris Hill School Theatre has been shortlisted for the RIBA Regional South Award 2023.
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a global professional membership body that drives excellence in architecture. The annual RIBA Awards celebrate the very best architecture in the United Kingdom, with regional winners then nominated for National Awards and the Stirling Prize.
The Horris Hill Theatre is situated amidst picturesque woodland in rural Berkshire, sitting in concert to brick Victorian neighbours in the school grounds. The warm red hue of Viroc panelling alludes to its traditional context but stands proudly distinct as a contemporary statement. The main auditorium, outdoor amphitheatre, and civic square gives pupils a hybrid of learning spaces that are accessible and interconnected. A tall portico lattice announces the theatre at the main point of arrival, acting as a sign board for productions.
Sustainable construction methods were integral to the design, with the structure composed from cross-laminated timber and finished internally with beech battens and panels, saving the release of approximately 40 tonnes of CO2 when compared to traditional block work. Operationally, the theatre integrates natural ventilation through its louvres, and is daylit from its windows and manually operated shutters.
