Architect of revolutionary school design

27 Apr 2009

 There is a lovely tribute to David Medd, one of the country's leading school architects, in The Independent's obituaries section today.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/david-medd-architect-who-revolutionised-school-design-1674818.html

 David Medd, born 1917, was particularly noted for designing the Eveline Lowe school in London in the mid-1960's. It was one of the first open-plan schools and was designed to fit with the educational philosophy of the Plowden Report, with its greater emphasis on learning through discovery. Instead of the traditional school design, Eveline Lowe was built with lots of alcoves and small areas for group and individual work, for messy activity, and with low partitions instead of walls between the classrooms.

I had been hoping to interview David Medd for a BBC Radio 4 series I am doing in the history of primary schools but, sadly, his death means it is not to be. He remained in touch with Eveline Lowe school and was consulted by the architects who are currently rebuilding the school (his original buildings will remain as they are listed).  

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