Concept – New Educational and Arts Building
1. Compact, Functional Layout
The building has a square footprint (27.4 × 27.4 m) rotated 28° relative to the existing C-building, optimizing solar orientation, natural daylight, and minimal circulation. A wedge-shaped space between the new and existing buildings preserves the courtyard and mature trees.
2. Logical Stacking of Functions
Lower Level: Semi-submerged gym and dance spaces near the entrance, suitable for external use outside school hours.
Ground Floor: Open-plan entrance and multifunctional hall; mezzanine refectory overlooks this space.
First & Second Floors: Duplex classrooms for foundational education, organized into four “nests,” each with six classrooms.
Top Floor: Atelier level for arts, music, media, and architecture, fully north-lit, with transparent partitions to encourage cross-disciplinary interaction.
3. Entrance & Vertical Circulation
Main entrance located strategically between new and existing buildings, connecting horizontal and vertical circulation.
Central spiral staircase with skylight and a spacious lift for accessibility and moving large objects. Emergency stairs included.
4. Multifunctional Spaces
Double-height hall at the entrance with flexible zones for events, exhibitions, presentations, theater, or small concerts.
Refectory/mezzanine overlooks the hall, with an open layout suitable for both daily student use and large events.
Gallery and outdoor areas blend play, greenery, and biodiversity with a partially water-permeable surface.
5. Materiality & Structure
Robust, low-maintenance interior materials: polibeton floors, concrete or glazed walls, acoustical ceilings.
Prefab concrete structure with full-height beams; industrial-style top atelier floor with perforated steel deck.
Custom-designed furniture by the team ensures consistency and functionality.
6. Facade & Transparency
Concrete colonnade supports the upper floor, shades classrooms, and mediates inside/outside spaces.
North/South façades glazed to capture daylight; East/West façades mostly closed to avoid glare.
Atelier level features external sunshading; façade layering balances verticality (base) and horizontal lightness (atelier).
7. Integration with Existing Campus
Existing C-building renovated: gym retained as quiet/computer rooms, old storage converted into first-aid space, and former locker rooms transformed into administrative offices.
8. Educational Philosophy
The building emphasizes transparency, cross-disciplinary learning, and light-filled creative spaces, fostering student interaction, inspiration, and engagement with arts and performance.