The architects’ objective was to blur the line between formal teaching in classrooms and the informal learning of the in-between spaces.
The site has been conceived as a building podium with open spaces extracted from it, such as the sports ground; the playground for the kindergarten children; the courtyards for the primary school children; entrances for both schools; and a ring of green between the schools and the footpath.
A meandering beam runs around all the open spaces, containing a new innovative network – traditional school corridors have been transformed into spaces where informal teaching and learning are encouraged. Within the largest of these corridors a number of semi-enclosed learning spaces are provided for informal events such as exhibitions and larger group work.
Each pair of traditional classrooms is provided with a glass-walled meeting room. This enables smaller student teams to communicate without distracting the rest of the class, and still be within easy reach of the teacher. The informal and formal parts of the building are clearly articulated spatially, formally and materially.
Five themed gardens provide the kindergarten with places to: dream, act and organise and play.