Ben Mailen
Architect & Managing Director
Meadows Nursery
Hewn designed and delivered a new-build nursery in Northumberland’s green belt, providing early years education within a carefully integrated rural setting.
Sector
Education
Location
Stocksfield, Northumberland
Client
Meadows Nursery
Year
2019
Services →
Architectural design
Interior architecture
Sustainable design
Planning & regulatory support
Technical design & delivery
Masterplanning
Post-occupancy support
Collaborators →
Oobe
Studio Horn
Kyoob
Awards →
RIBA North East Awards (shortlisted)
Project overview
Meadows Nursery reimagines early years education through a domestic-scale architectural approach rooted in landscape and context. Replacing redundant agricultural buildings, the scheme is conceived as a cluster of three nursery ‘houses’, each tailored to a specific age group and organised to support children as they progress through the building over time. The fragmented massing reduces the visual impact on the green belt while framing long-range views across the surrounding countryside. Internally and externally, spaces are closely connected, supporting a strong relationship between sheltered environments and outdoor play. The result is a calm, legible layout that prioritises wellbeing, orientation, and a sense of familiarity.
Context
The building is carefully positioned to nestle into the existing topography, with new planting used to screen the development and soften its presence within the wider landscape. Scale and form are deliberately broken down to reflect the agricultural vernacular of the site, allowing the nursery to sit comfortably alongside neighbouring farm structures. Orientation is optimised to maximise solar gain and natural ventilation, while south-facing gardens provide protected outdoor spaces shared across the nursery. Together, these strategies reduce the impact on the openness of the green belt while strengthening the building’s connection to place.
“Designing educational buildings carries a particular responsibility, especially at early years level. Meadows Nursery gave us the opportunity to design around a child’s experience of place while fostering a deep connection with nature. The fact that this effort has been recognised by the RIBA North East Awards is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Sustainability
A palette of natural, robust materials is used throughout, reinforcing the building’s rural character while ensuring durability and longevity. Stone, timber, and carefully detailed cladding create a contemporary expression grounded in local precedent. Environmental performance is enhanced through integrated sustainable technologies, including photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Daylight, passive heating, and natural ventilation are prioritised to reduce operational energy demand, supporting a low-energy building that performs efficiently while providing a healthy, comfortable environment for children and staff.
Client testimonial
“TBA”
Margaret Taylor – Client
