Violette Chumbe

‘A Gateway to Nature’

The ‘Earth School’ encompasses the transformation of the historic McDonald Road fire station into a hub for interdisciplinary learning, dedicated to fostering environmental education for local schools, homeschooling groups, and the broader community.

The project revolves around the ethos of turning interior spaces into a ‘gateway to nature’. Meaning that, in order to reconnect with the natural world, interior spaces, especially those for formative development such as schools, must become a gateway; a means of achieving a truer connection to the live world outside.

Given the project's emphasis on sustainable development and local nature, the integration of the surrounding outdoor area and the incorporation of biophilic design principles are fundamental to its realisation.

The Process

The process of building rehabilitation entailed stripping the existing structure down to its concrete-frame skeleton. Subsequent enhancements include the introduction of timber and live-wall inserts, as well as the creation of a prominent ramp feature connecting the building to the garden and former drill area. Additionally, part of the roof is reimagined as a glazed rainwater collection feature, further contributing to the project's eco-conscious design.

The interior for the Main Hall follows the biophilic principles of 'connection to natural systems' and 'complexity and order' and takes its cue from the surrounding landscape of Edinburgh. A social stair feature follows the contours and curves of rolling hills, scattered columns of timber panels create a woodland like view and clusters of round seating imitates mounds of heather.