Full plans have been submitted for a new primary school for Inverness – and it is inspired by tower houses and castles.
Ness Side primary school and nursery will serve part of the west side of the city, for the future housing developments of Ness Castle and Ness-side.
An initial roll of about 150 is expected to rise to 630 by 2032-33.
And now, lead architects Stallan Brand have revealed the design – a building they say is “inspired by the Scottish vernacular of tower houses and castles which are dotted around Inverness town and its periphery’.
The school will consist of four conjoined buildings, in a stepped, triangular layout.
The layout will create sheltered outdoor social spaces and resources areas for a variety of purposes close to the building, while further out tree and wild flower planting will allow habitat creation, exploration and sport, including a multi-use games area and an all-weather pitch.
The designers foresee the creation of a “Highland garden” to be developed over time by the school and community, and state that the external spaces around the school reflect its place at the heart of the community, and the need to be inviting and accessible to all.
Parking for 54 cars, including five accessible spaces, and 33 cycle storage spots is planned, with 14 spaces and two accessible bays available for nursery drop off throughout the day.
The two storey building is designed to be fully adaptable and extendable in the future, made from modern, sustainable materials.
It will be brick on light steel frame construction which the designers say is “recyclable, robust and thermally efficient”.
As in tower houses and castles, the walls will be deep, and will conceal efficient thermal insulation enveloping the whole building.
The twelve classrooms and communal spaces will have large windows and additional roof-lights to allow as much natural light as possible.
The plan is to use renewable energy in the form of air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.
The architects say their school designs ‘address the needs of the 21st century learner, with well structured adaptable spaces which help teachers deliver more creative lessons, and encourage improved teamwork.’
The Ness Castle area is in line for around 1,000 new homes in three phases.
