April 30, 2008

Cool Schools

We’re noticing more examples of design making a difference in educational facilities. Here are three recent projects that have used interesting architecture and design to inspire and facilitate learning.

Copenhagen, Denmark has seen remarkable growth in teens living in the city and the current number of educational facilities couldn’t keep up. The Municipality of Copenhagen needed a new college and looked to 3XN Architects to design the new building. The architects created a dynamic interior plan based on four boomerang shaped balconies Each balcony contains a study zone that can be adjusted to create different spaces, and learning environments that can fit different group sizes. The ground floor contains several elevated lounge areas complete with giant beanbag chairs that create a comfortable place to study….or maybe nap.

The University of the Americas in the city of Concepcion, Chile employs a colorful and translucent exterior facade to define the building. Inside, D+ Arquitectos Asociados created a series of vertical shafts to bring natural light into the building while the exterior screens filter the suns heat. Planners knew the area where the school is located would shift from being a fairly quiet area to becoming a centralized area for new development. The school would be a foundational community asset.

No doubt few went to a high school with a cafeteria as cool as this. HHF architects completed a temporary integration of a cafeteria into a existing open lobby of a high school building in Basel, Switzerland. The architects devised a system of wood ribbons that were installed within the space and could be removed without damage. The ribbons extend outside to form a canopy for dining al fresco. The school is located in a land-marked building designed by Swiss architect Hans Bernoulli.