16 September 2022 · By Fran Williams. Photography by Fred Howarth

Emerging practice Delve has completed new nursery The Learning Tree in a former Romford warehouse for just £90 per square foot

Designed for childcare and education company Storal Learning, the nursery has been created in a retrofit of a former warehouse in east London.

Building upon the practice’s experience of designing for early learners, the scheme uses durable natural materials such as timber, ply and rubber and was achieved in just six months.

The interior fit-out reflects various educational principles such as the ‘Curiosity Approach’, a child-led learning methodology that will be used alongside other teaching methods for the children. The design therefore allows for freedom of movement and multiple uses of spaces.

At the heart of the plan is a communal dining space, designed as a multifunctional social area with access from all rooms. Other facilities include a kitchen, bathrooms, waiting area, office and a timber-covered outdoor play area. Glazed partitions provide natural light across the nursery.

Curved forms were also used throughout, with round arches, playful portholes and curved partition walls.

Sustainable natural materials were installed, including timber-framed, pine-faced plywood walls, recycled rubber flooring and low-VOC finishes.

Delve Architects is also working with Storal Learning on another nursery in Banbury, Oxfordshire, starting on site this month. In 2020, Delve completed a small nursery within a four-storey Victorian former doctor’s surgery building in Parsons Green, south-west London.

The Learning Tree represents everything that we’re passionate about when it comes to design and how that can contribute to the development and education of young children and the wellbeing of their families. The client Storal Learning was brilliant to work and with them we’ve delivered something special and beautiful for families in the Romford area. Alex Raher, director, Delve Architects

A small group of us started to work closely with Alex at Delve and his team some months ago. As the plans for the build grew so did our vision, it became evident through the introduction by Delve of natural resources and sustainable materials to factor in this approach not only for our environment but towards the pedagogical vision, too. With a strong desire to encompass the societal values regarding biodiversity and sustainability, it is Storal Learning’s ethos to focus on teaching children from a young age about the importance of considering our immediate environment, in addition to the planet as a whole. This allows a rich learning environment for young children and families to gain values for future generations. Alex and his team have been an integral part of the experience of creating a nursery from scratch and we look forward to seeing the build come to life to benefit the families and the local community. Charlotte Roberts, head of operations (South), Storal Learning

Start on site December 2021 Completion June 2022 Gross internal floor area 460m² Gross (internal + external) floor area 560m² Construction cost per m² £924 Client Storal Learning Structural engineer N/A M&E consultant Seneca Group Acoustic consultant ALN Acoustics CDM co-ordinator Hush Minoan Partnership Approved building inspector Assent Main contractor Hush Minoan Partnership CAD software used Vectorworks

Tags Delve Architects fit-out and interiors nursery Romford Timber

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