AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

In search of an innovative learning environment

Final Semester 2015

St

Highway

The proposal was to design an international school with teaching facilities for 150 overseas students, including livein accommodation for 30 students. A particular focus of the studio involved initial reseach into what constitutes a successful and stimulating learning environment, as well as an experimentation into creative alternatives to current school sdesign.

The site is the north-western portion of land on which the current Archithecture, Landscape and Visual Arts (UWA) building is located; Adjacent to Gordon St and Clifton St, Nedlands.

The research for this project is learning through play. Play is essential part of early learning. It is the lifeblood of the learning process. As children play they are developing the cognitive, socio-emotional and physical skills which they will need to take into their successful adulthood. They are developing their curiosity, problem solving, intentionality, flexibility, and verbal and non verbal skills. Socio-emotionally they are developing their emotional intelligence - learning confidence, cooperation, negotiation, sharing, empathy and how to communicate appropriately. Physically their fine motor and gross motor skills are being practiced and developed. It’s not “just play” they are skills for life!

In terms of the actual design process, to break down the building scale I played with the grid orientation of the site and the north-south axis to create angular spaces. These angular shape is to break free from the normal block shape of a school. By having angular shape it create negative spaces that could be turn out into a multi functional space.

To respond to the goal of the project, the school philosophy embraces a broad spectrum of learning styles (accomodating everything from multi-class gathering to independent study. Moreover as an international school, the possibilty of a student to register in the middle of term is very common. Therefore I believed that the syllabus of their studies should be flexible enough that the new comers would not be laid back before they could pick up on their learnings. I believe that it is similar to the building design situation. There has been a clear trend in school designs becoming more flexible and adaptable for changing demographic and classrooms needs.

In this design, there are 5 flexible learning zone;

Discovery zone where the student could pick a spot anywhere in the building to sit and to do their research. Such as on a secluded balcony on every level, or by sitting in the corridor’s bench or for more privacy and quite time there are two levels of a hiding spot in the ramp.

Show off zone, where the student could display their artworks, along the double volume bridge, the formal gallery, or the court yards.

Free movement zone. Most of the rooms are design to connect with each other by a turnable wall panels. This could help to enlarge the space to cater a bigger number of students at one time. More over within the learning zone, the fast way to reach each level is by the ramp. The special design of this building is the playroom on the thetre, which act as a hub of the school. That is the place where students could practically have fun playing climbs or hide in the corner with a book to read or just sit and enjoy the company of their friends.

Creating zone. There are many spaces that are multi functional, or its pupose is to cater any spil-out situation. Beside the art room there is a courtyard that they could work in when the art project is too big to be indoor. There is roof garden for the kindergarten children to play, the play room on the theatre and the gallery at the entrance.

Discussion and thinking zone, there are clasess that is purposely design like the traditional classroom, which it has been working well to have serious discussion.