Moulsford Preparatory School stands proudly above the River Thames midway between Wallingford and Pangbourne. The design of its new sports hall is a radical contrast to the school’s traditional red-brick and clay-tile main building and makes a striking addition to the banks of the river.
“The conservation officer influenced the building’s design and suggested that a boathouse-style building would be appropriate for the location.” explained architect Mark Webber. “Its style, and the materials used, would provide a contrast to the main building but without dominating it. The design featured a multi-level roof with a shallow, 25° pitch, limiting the choice of roofing slate to those strong enough to withstand wind-lift, the inevitable noise associated with it and, of course, possible failure.”
“We specified SSQ First Domiz Blue-grey roofing slate for both technical and aesthetic reasons – its strength and quality gave the performance needed and its cold, hard, colour provides a dramatic foil to the rich warmth of the western red cedar walls.”
