Peterborough School

The Vision

With the support of their governors, the Peterborough School embarked on an ambitious project to reimagine their early years classroom, envisioning a reception area that would truly stand out. Their primary objective was to create a space that brings the ‘WOW Factor’ and inspires young children to learn and explore. Despite having an initial vision, the school was still determining the specifics of the final design and was eager to discover the possibilities available.

Following an insightful visit and collaborative discussions, Envoplan presented some exciting initial drawings aligned with the school’s innovative goals. The designs brought to life their vision, transforming their reception area into a joyful and stimulating environment, combining functionality with creativity to foster an engaging learning atmosphere for the children.

Bringing the vision to life

The inspiration for the treehouse came from the school’s picturesque location, which boasts a magnificent cedar tree and a dedicated Forest School area. The vision was to create an indoor space that captured the essence of the outdoors, blending natural beauty with a functional learning environment. With its two levels, the treehouse serves as a hub for imaginative play and learning. The first level features three individual rooms that open onto the classroom, fostering interactive and playful learning experiences. The second level, accessible via a side staircase, is a roofed area with multiple windows offering a unique view of the classroom below, creating a dynamic and engaging environment for the children, which they have enjoyed reading in.

Bringing this vision to life involved a meticulous and creative process. Partnering with Steadfast, a renowned joinery company, we embarked on designing an aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound tree. The tree needed to support the weight of a full class of students and teachers on the second floor, necessitating building-grade joists. The design challenges included crafting curved tree fronts and incorporating circular and arched top windows with mesh. Steadfast’s expertise was instrumental in finding practical solutions to these challenges. The designers chose to cover the tree’s surface with a textured wall covering from Tectura that mimicked the look and feel of real wood.

The design used sound-deadening materials inside the tree to enhance the acoustic environment. Additionally, the shape of the leaves was crafted from lightweight acoustic material in two shades of green, adding depth and a lifelike quality to the tree. These elements combine to create an immersive, functional, and enchanting treehouse that brings the magic of the outdoors into the classroom. This Tree House bought the ‘WOW Factor’ the school envisioned.

As soon as the children walked in, their faces were an absolute picture. There were "Wow's" and gasps and they were desperate to go up into the treehouse.

Mrs L. McClarnon, Early Years Teacher at The Peterborough School

The treehouse wasn’t the only exciting addition to the classroom; we thoughtfully integrated several other design elements to enhance the learning environment. We installed storage walls to create two distinct teaching zones, each with interactive screens and a cosy reading nook for quiet time and individual exploration. We repurposed the existing furniture from the old classroom, as it was still in good condition, ensuring a familiar and comfortable setting for the students. To spark curiosity and learning, we added a large world map covering an entire wall and featuring information about the animals native to each country. This visual and interactive element is both an educational tool and a vibrant decoration. We installed cloud lights to hang lower to complement the general lighting, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere. These design elements provide a stimulating and nurturing environment supporting learning and play.