The Learning Tree Nursery

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

THE LEARNING TREE NURSERY

Delve

ARCHITECTS
Delve

MANUFACTURERS
James Latham, Artigo, Dsk Joinery

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Delve

PHOTOGRAPHS
Fred Howard

AREA
560 M²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Day Care, Detail

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

Text description provided by architect.

Emerging architects Delve complete new nursery The Learning Tree in Romford, for leading childcare and education company, Storal Learning.

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

A retrofit of a former warehouse in East London, the nursery builds on Delve’s experience with early learning education and sustainable architecture with an open, fun and durable design using natural materials of timber, ply and rubber.

The significant transformation of the commercial building into a contemporary nursery was achieved in just six months for £90/sft +VAT.

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

The interior fit-out reflects various education approaches in particular the Curiosity Approach - a modern child-led learning methodology - that the nursery will use alongside other teaching methods for Early Years children. Accordingly, Delve’s designs allow for exploration, freedom of movement and multiple uses of each space.

Glazed partitions provide natural light across the nursery, and at the heart of the plan is a communal dining space, designed as a multi-functional social area with access from all rooms.

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

Other facilities include kitchen, bathrooms, waiting area, office and an outdoor timber covered play area. Curved forms were used throughout the Learning Tree to differentiate it from typical nurseries with round arches, playful portholes and curved partition walls.

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

The Learning Tree Nursery
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard

The choices were purposefully made to deliver a more sustainable project while at the same time introducing young children to a variety of materials and surfaces not usually seen in education spaces.

Delve’s work with Storal Learning will continue with another nursery in Banbury, Oxfordshire starting on site this month, for an opening in September

The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard


The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard


The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard
The Learning Tree Nursery
© Fred Howard


The Learning Tree Nursery
Elevation
The Learning Tree Nursery
Elevation