With brick red hues similar to its older neighbours, yet clad in a completely different material: The new school theatre by Jonathan Tuckey Design fits into the building ensemble of Horris High School in Newbury in southern England very well. About 130 boys ages four to 13 visit the private school surrounded by a 34 ha school campus. The David Brownlow Theatre – named after its patron, a businessman and former Tory vice president – is situated right next to the campus access road. At a first glance, it is reminiscent more of an agricultural structure than a theatre, due to its slightly pitched gable roof and its facade cladding made of cement-bonded particle board. Consisting of the same material, vertical lesenes similar to protruding fins rhythmically structure the facade surfaces, large segments of which are windowless. The facade is designed according to a 62.5 cm grid. In certain areas, the grid unit is twice that dimension – mostly where doors, windows and vents for the auditorium are located. The facade infill comprised of tilted slats indicates the placement of the latter. Similar in shape, yet larger in size, two tilted awnings protect the stage exits from rain along the rear of the building facing southwards. A cantilevering concrete ledge that doubles as a bench delineates where the facade touches the ground.
Along the north of the building a tall timber pergola emphasizes the location of the main entrance. It also serves as the load bearing structure for banners used for advertising performances.
The structure of the new building consists, for the most part, of cross laminated timber. Compared to a conventional brick building, its carbon footprint is 40 tonnes lower, according to calculations made by the architects. The composite wood panels used for cladding the facade were cut to size in the workshop before assembly on-site, similar to attaching panelling to furniture. On the interior the cross laminated timber remains visible to a large degree. Its surface, however, receives a rhythmic pattern by attaching beech trim at different intervals. Grey acoustic panels at select wall infill areas dampen noise in the auditorium. An arched acoustic hung ceiling delimits the auditorium space, designed for 160 occupants. Its deep blue colour is intended to be reminiscent of the nighttime sky, according to the architects. Flooring made of the same wood composite panels as used for the facade, yet coloured in black, completes the indoor material selection.
