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Meet Barrowford’s next generation of designers

We recently welcomed local Year 6 students to our Keld community in Barrowford, and hosted a competition to test their creativity and sustainable ideas. 

 

64 children from Barrowford Primary School enjoyed a tour of an innovative four-bedroom show home at Keld, before being tasked to let their imaginations run wild in Northstone’s ‘Design a *Shed’ competition. 

 

To give the class some inspiration, Northstone’s design director, Richard O’Brien, gave them a tour of a home and *Shed, as well as teaching them about the different ways his team incorporates technology and sustainability into each home.

 

Following the visit, students were tasked with designing their dream *Shed, thinking about sustainability, innovation, and technology, as well as a surprise element. 

 

With a design incorporating a water vapour fire, under floor heating, compost bins, sound-proofed walls and a cosy reading corner, Esmae took home the main prize, a £50 arts and crafts voucher. The well-deserved runners up were Oliver, whose design included solar panels, plastic-free water pipes and insulated walls, and Gracie with her rooftop garden kitted out with sustainable beehives and energy saving LED lights.

 

Much more than a typical shed, our *Shed is a unique way to maximise space outside the home. Residents of our larger homes have the option to upgrade the 3m by 2.5m space with heating, electricity and Wi-Fi, so they can convert it into a home office, gym, or creative space to suits their needs.

 

Richard O’Brien, design director at Northstone, said: “We really enjoyed welcoming the students of Barrowford Primary School to Keld, and seeing their amazing *Shed suggestions. All of the designs embraced the sustainability, innovation and technology that are at the heart of our homes, but it was Esmae’s creative design with water vapour fire that secured her the top spot.

 

“Inspiring the next generation and educating them about sustainable living is so important to us and we look forward to working with more schools and young people in Barrowford in the future.” 

 

Karl Cross, assistant head teacher of Barrowford Primary School, said: “Our visit to Keld was fantastic. Our Year 6 class loved hearing about all the different technology in the homes and how they save energy. We all came away feeling inspired and very creative."

 

To learn more about the spacious 2,3- and 4-bedrooms homes available at Keld, and to arrange a viewing of one of the show homes, speak to a member of the sales team about availability and call 01282 917 001.