Winning designs for sites in Bexley, Bury and Sheffield have been unveiled by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). The winners of the competition each receive a 10,000 prize.
Designers were challenged to create settings that are of the highest quality as well as being adaptable and functional and provide inspiration for children. Each building offers facilities for children aged up to five years old and can be used as a community meeting space outside nursery hours.
The judging panel was chaired by CABE commissioner Sir Nicholas Serota and included education specialist Margy Whalley of Pen Green Sure Start in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Sir Nicholas said, 'I was impressed by the creativity in many of the schemes. Good nurseries depend on a strong lead from those who work in them and the imaginative use of scarce resources by architects.
'All the schemes which we commended show how relatively modest funds can transform the caring, play and learning potential of nurseries.' In Bury, Lancashire, an existing nursery in a disadvantaged neighbourhood has been extended and remodelled in a design by DSDHA architects. The judges were impressed by the 'sensitive and subtle design', especially where it creates a new nursery front facing the local park which helps 'reconnect the nursery to the community'.
An eye-catching circular nursery building has been designed in Bexley, London, by Birds Portchmouth Russum architects. The judges said, 'This is a stimulating and innovative design which, while addressing all the practical requirements, creates a building which challenges conventions about designing buildings for small children.
'It provides a potential model that could have application in a wide range of sites. It responds particularly well to the harsh urban environment of the site.'
In Sheffield, Yorkshire, the judges were impressed with two competition entries -Peter Hudspith architects and Walters and Cohen architects have both been invited to take the schemes to a more detailed design level before a winner is chosen.
The design competition was announced in May by the then employment and equal opportunities minister Margaret Hodge. It was organised jointly by the former Department for Education and Employment and CABE.