Levitt Bernstein has been appointed to design a new music department for King’s Bruton in Somerset, to mark its 500th anniversary in 2019.
Under these proposals, a disused corner of the school site, directly adjacent to the River Brue, will be transformed to create a new building for all of the school’s musical facilities, including teaching and rehearsal space, a recital hall and fully equipped music technology suite. A new external courtyard will be defined by the new building, linking it to the rest of the school and bringing activity where there is currently very little.
Sat in the heart of the 16th century estate and within the Bruton Conservation Area, the design is inspired by, and carefully responds to, this sensitive context. The site is enclosed on three sides by listed stone walls with the new building stepped back from these boundaries to respect their historical significance. A riverside walkway will be created to provide a dialogue between the old and new structures. A new two-storey tower also marks the entrance and has been inspired by the character of the nearby Headmaster’s tower.
Ian Wilmshurst, Headmaster of King’s Bruton, said: “Music at King’s is arguably as strong as it’s ever been, but this is despite our facilities and not because of them. This music school will provide state of the art amenities for both our students and the wider community.”
Jamie Potter, Architect at Levitt Bernstein, said: “Our challenge on this project lies in marrying the old and new to create a building that is both beautiful and functional. It’s a privilege to work on a site with such a rich architectural heritage and we look forward to bringing our proposals to life in the coming years.”
