schmidt hammer lassen architects to design new Island School in Hong Kong

Designing the new Island School in Hong Kong is the latest competition win for schmidt hammer lassen architects. 

Project client English Schools Foundation selected the Danish firm and Hong Kong-based Thomas Chow Architects as the winning team to build a new 28,000-sq.meter learning facility for the school's estimated 1,200 students.

The winning team will begin working with the school in the co-creation process.

Project description:

"The new Island School will be placed on the site of the existing school, which was built in 1967. The site has a clear visual connection to the green mountain landscape and the Hong Kong city skyline and waterfront. This visual connection plays an important role in the proposed design. An atrium, which contains the school’s learning plaza, runs through the complex, framing the view towards the green landscape on one side and the city on the other. The visual connection supports the perception of the school in relation to its surroundings – the landscape and the city.

The proposed design of the school has a strong connection to the local community, with sports and cultural facilities that can be used by the public outside the normal opening hours of the school." 

"The building concept is designed and organized as a sustainable learning landscape with balconies and green gardens. The shape of the building, with cantilevering facades, creates shade where needed. In other places, the facade leans back to allow daylight into the learning spaces without causing overheating.

The internal functions of the building are proposed organized around a learning plaza, which runs through the main arrival level of the school and connects to the atrium. The gardens and the greenery also help to cool the building, contributing to a good indoor climate,  while the atrium creates good lighting conditions that minimize the use of artificial light within the building."  

"The classrooms are designed to be flexible learning spaces, which can be set up in different ways to support various learning situations. The rooms can be divided into smaller spaces or opened up to connect with other parts of the school.

Project details:

Architect team: Thomas Chow Architects, schmidt hammer lassen architects 
Client:  English Schools Foundation 
Area:  28,000 m2 
Competition:  2014, 1st prize, international competition 
Engineer: AECOM, Aurecon 
Landscape Architect: Urbis

Images courtesy of schmidt hammer lassen.

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