Welcome to our innovative school complex, situated in the heart of Heraklion’s vibrant urban landscape. Designed to overcome the challenges of a limited 1500 square meter plot, this unique project redefines how educational spaces can blend functionality, sustainability, and creative design.
Maximizing Space with Innovative Design
To make the most of the available space, we’ve employed a three-volume structure. One volume is positioned at ground level, while two others are elevated above, creating an open, spacious schoolyard for students to relax and play. This smart design ensures that the building program is fully accommodated while providing the largest possible outdoor area within the urban context.
Schools hold significant influence as educational structures, shaping the values and knowledge of individuals and society at large. They serve as the foundation for our basic understanding, critical thinking, and judgment of the world and our way of life. The space in which education takes place plays a vital role in how children interact with their environment. It becomes their initial exposure to the concept of bourgeois society, shaping their future relationships with the broader societal context.
The fundamental concept behind this building design is to create movement both within the structure itself and in the surrounding environment. The objective is to ensure permanent freedom of movement outside the building. While the essential functions naturally take place inside the building, there is also a desire to facilitate certain activities outside. Thus, great importance is placed on the quantity and quality of the provided yard space. Despite the plot’s limitations, albeit of medium size, the primary goal is to provide the largest possible ground floor area for students to relax.
Based on building data and the specific requirements of the educational structure, calculations were made to determine the maximum feasible coverage. The necessary functions were primarily located on the ground floor, while the remaining functions were distributed across the other floors. The intention was to avoid constructing a compact volume that encompasses all functions, opting instead to distribute them in smaller, more manageable sections. The required volume was divided into four parts, with two pieces remaining on the ground floor and the others suspended above.
To ensure seamless connectivity and interaction among different functions and students, necessary vertical and horizontal axes of movement were established. A central patio serves as a unifying element, creating a circular relationship between the floors and a cylindrical connection within the space. From a structural standpoint, the support system for the two suspended volumes on the ground floor was carefully designed to prevent the creation of a closed inner courtyard, allowing it to remain free and connected to the surrounding urban space. This was achieved by supporting the volumes with numerous oblique thin steel columns, creating the necessary static conditions to securely suspend the volumes.
The architectural design of the cubic structure used as a school is an impressive testament to innovation, sustainability, and creativity. With its wooden facade, vertical void, connecting corridor, truss-like columns, basement for electric cars, and a dedicated room for dance classes, it offers a unique and inspiring learning environment.
The school’s exterior showcases a stunning wooden facade, providing a warm and inviting ambiance. The natural beauty of the wood creates a harmonious connection with the surroundings, while also emphasizing a commitment to eco-friendly design principles. The wooden cladding is carefully crafted to blend aesthetics and functionality, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the structure.
At the heart of the school is a striking vertical void, serving as a central architectural feature. This void creates a sense of spaciousness and openness, as well as allowing natural light to flood the interior spaces. The void is designed to captivate attention and inspire curiosity, offering a unique visual experience that stimulates creativity and exploration.
Connecting the 15 classrooms within the structure is a corridor that acts as a bustling pathway for students and staff. This corridor serves as a vital link, promoting interaction and collaboration among different areas of the school. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their work and achievements, creating a dynamic and vibrant atmosphere.
A complex of truss-like columns supports the cubic structure, giving the impression of suspension and adding a touch of architectural drama. These columns are strategically placed to provide stability while simultaneously creating an awe-inspiring visual effect. The combination of their unique design and functionality adds a sense of innovation and artistic expression to the overall structure.
The school’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by the inclusion of a basement specifically designed for electric cars. This forward-thinking feature promotes eco-friendly transportation options and aligns with a greener future. The basement serves as a convenient charging station, encouraging the use of electric vehicles and reducing the school’s carbon footprint.
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