Bringing the spirit of British education to Japan, Epsom College translates the traditions of English schooling into an architecture rooted in play, imagination and care. The five-storey primary school, for children aged 3 to 11, transforms an existing building in the heart of the city into a place that celebrates creativity, curiosity and craft. Rather than replicating Epsom’s original Surrey campus, the Tokyo school evolves its architectural language and academic ethos to create a setting tailored to the learning journeys of each age group.

Organised vertically, every floor centres around a communal hub that supports children’s social and developmental needs: from playful landscapes in Early Years, to collaborative corners in Key Stage 1, and spaces to encourage creative thinking and independence in Key Stage 2.

These learning environments are conceived as laboratories of imagination, where classrooms and shared areas blend STEM, play and art to make abstract ideas tangible. Throughout, a curated sequence of spaces – including puzzle walls, maker zones and reading nooks – encourages interaction, resilience and creativity. Pastel tones drawn from Epsom’s house values – Courage, Kindness, Wisdom, Integrity and Ambition – define a calm yet distinctive identity, while modular, age-scaled furniture supports independence and discovery throughout.