The Cockermouth School Eco Centre, Cumbria, UK Available to Purchase

This paper describes the genesis, design and construction of the Mike Wilde Eco Centre at Cockermouth School, Cumbria, UK. This highly unusual multi-functional teaching facility was designed specifically to minimise its environmental impact and to act as a showcase for sustainable design. The paper discusses the choice of different construction materials used and reviews their principal characteristics, along with a number of practical problems faced during design and construction. The more unusual building materials used include recycled brickwork and paving slabs, waste tyres and extensive timber panel construction. The building services and power generation provided are also discussed, as is the success of the project—and the various construction materials used—in terms of achieving its objectives.