Quite impressed by these architects and the concepts they’ve employed in the design.
“The vision for the Smart School project is to create a new type of school – a “School Park” – that unites architecture and landscape into a unique learning environment and gathering point for the local community. The design of the project is based on a both unifying and expanding concept that bridges between school complex, nature and modern society in the form a diverse, including and activating learning environment. The complex is organised as a permeable ring of buildings, which contain the main functions and are grouped around a central outdoor space. Each building and function expands towards the centre in the form of directly related outdoor area and together these areas form a diverse arena for experiential learning and pedagogical synergies. The very active and social spaces of this central campus are contrasted by a calmer and contemplative landscape of natural and agricultural areas outside of the ring, which allow the school to be partially self-sufficient and are included in teaching activities.
The buildings are connected by a large roof surface with distinctive eaves, which gives the complex a recognisable identity and creates a series of roofed outdoor areas between the offset volumes. These zones dissolve the boundary between the indoor and outdoor spaces by creating a diverse transitional zone for learning and physical activities, play, social interaction and relaxation. Special emphasis is put on the spaces in between the buildings. They are programmed for a double purpose in order to utilise their potential as both access points and links between different functions. These roofed common spaces combine the elements of intimacy and contextualisation that tie the wider complex of school buildings, the central campus and the landscape together.”