When Westbourne Grammar School engaged Laycock and Jaquet to establish a landscape masterplan, the grounds were presenting with a tired look, suffering from drought, lack of maintenance, traffic pressures and an ad-hoc approach to problem solving.
The Masterplan offered a systematic approach to all aspects of ground maintenance, new courtyard designs based on simplified traffic patterns, a new plant palette and a full implementation strategy.

Following up from this work, we were commissioned to design the Junior school courtyard which was covered with bitumen, served mainly as a thoroughfare and was cold and uninviting.
The brief included providing a venue for assemblies, outdoor art classes and performances, shade, informal sitting areas, planting and disable access.

A central space was created with low tables with rubberised paving below which the children sat on at lunchtime but kneeled at for outdoor classes. The space was punctuated with brightly colour seating walls, concrete paving and soft and fragrant planting, whilst bordered by more private and secluded spaces.
The design of the courtyard creates a dynamic space through colour and textures which provided the courtyard with a new focus for the renovated Junior school and lent it a contemporary edge.