Hong Kong-based architect 10 Design has won a competition to design an ideal 74,000-sq-m primary school in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, just south of Shanghai.
10 Design came up with a “grassland village” concept, which uses a university-style campus rather than a single institutional building.
The Qianjiang New City Future School will have places for 2,000 students, and will also offer amenities for the community.
The campus makes the most of its waterfront site by placing an undulating green deck at the heart of the design. According to 10 Design, this acts as a “floating oasis” within the dense urban surroundings of Hangzhou, providing a focal point for the school buildings and providing outdoor space.
Below the deck are shared facilities such as a library, canteen and activity rooms, all situated along a main street.
Around this are 48 classrooms in three teaching blocks, divided by age group. They are accompanied by more specialised facilities for science, art, and IT. There is also a football pitch, running track, and 800-seat theatre that will be shared with the community.
Design Principal Peby Pratama said the practice’s aim was to create a school that facilitated “environmental education and social interaction for our future generations”. He said: “The design emphasises openness, vitality and sustainability, and is an organic response as well as a celebration of nature in the new city of Hangzhou.”
10 Design was bought by French consultant Egis Group in 2017. It has offices in the US, UK, Middle East and East Asia.
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