Felmore Primary School, Basildon

A Case Study: Inspirational Domes

Felmore Primary School in Basildon, Essex, supported by Creative Partnerships in Thames Gateway and Veolia Cleanaway is building an ‘Inspirational Domes’ project for creative, environmental and educational learning within the grounds of the school. The domes have been supplied by Solardome – (www.solardome.co.uk) the UK’s leading manufacturer of geodesic domes.

Environmental arts company Circling the Square (www.circlingthesquare.com) was commissioned to work with the school on a design and build basis; planning and designing with pupils and staff the three dome structures and landscaped areas that constitute Felmore School’s own ‘Mini Eden Project’. The design process included pupils and teachers going on research trips to the Eden Project in Cornwall and Writtle Horticultural College in Chelmsford, investigating ‘dome’ projects in the UK & Europe and on-going creative learning sessions to maximise the potential use of the scheme.

The project comprises three dome structures. Two of these domes are to be geodesic glass ‘Solardome’ structures; one for housing tropical plants and the other for multi-functional educational activities. The smaller ‘eco’ Solardome will house tropical plants (similar to the biomes at the Eden Project) and the larger ‘atelier’ Solardome will be multi-functional, with space for a wide range of creative learning activities, sensory learning, movement, creative participatory workshops and interactive exhibitions. This will be a stimulating space for running ‘hands on’ workshops linked to environmental themes across the school curriculum.

The third ‘amphitheatre’ dome will incorporate raised tiered seating levels around an activity, storytelling, performance and teaching area.

Encompassing art, English, design & technology, maths, science, geography and history, the ‘Inspirational Domes’ project aims to promote cross-disciplinary environment-themed learning that is relevant to the whole primary school curriculum.

For further information please contact:

• Karen Colville, Felmore Primary School, T: +44 (0) 1268 729885
• Tim Ward, Circling the Square, T: +44 (0) 208 505 5120
• Serena Abbott, Creative Partnerships Thames Gateway, T: +44 (0) 1268 247251
• Samantha Bradley, Solardome, T: +44 (0) 845 450 2155

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