Case : Umeå School of Architecture Umeå School of Architecture has a unique location by Umeå River in the northern part of Sweden – only a few kilometres from the Arctic Circle. With its interior landscape of open levels and sculptural stairs, the building exudes creativity and artistic experimenting. As a growth centre for the architecture of the future, Umeå School of Architecture provides the framework for inspiration and innovation. From the outside, the building has a cubic expression, featuring larch facades and square windows placed in a vibrant, rhythmic pattern on all sides. The interior space is designed as a dynamic variation of stairs and displaced, open floors – where abstract, white boxes hang freely from the ceiling, filtering the light that pours into the space through the high skylights. One of the key objectives has been to create a bright and open study environment where everyone is part of the same room – yet separated by the displaced floors and the glass walls of the teaching rooms. The design thus supports the opportunity for mutual inspiration and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the students.
In contrast to the dynamic atrium, the drawing rooms offer a simple, rational design. They are distributed along the facades in a strict, consistent sequence of columns and beams. The varied pattern of windows creates a strong visual effect and generously lets the light pour far into the building, while at the same time offering a breathtaking view of the passing river. Umeå School of Architecture has a highly transparent expression despite its opening angle of just 30 %. This owes to the three different window sizes and their distribution across the facade – which provides the building with ample daylight.
DESIGN WITH KNOWLEDGE |
89
7.0 Daylight
Umeå, Sweden 5,000 m2 Completed 2011