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The design proposed by CEBRA was selected in a prestigious architectural design competition among five other proposals from architects including MVRDV, Sou Fujimoto, WORKac, Architects Rudanko+Kankkunen / Studio Puisto and MKPL Architects. The vision for the Smart School project is to create a new type of school – a “School Park” – that unites architecture and landscape into a unique learning environment and gathering point for the local community. The design of the project is based on a both unifying and expanding concept that bridges between school complex, nature and modern society in the form a diverse, including and activating learning environment.

The complex is organised as a permeable ring of buildings, which contain the main functions and are grouped around a central outdoor space. Each building and function expands towards the centre in the form of directly related outdoor area and together these areas form a diverse arena for experiential learning and pedagogical synergies. The very active and social spaces of this central campus are contrasted by a calmer and contemplative landscape of natural and agricultural areas outside of the ring, which allow the school to be partially self-sufficient and are included in teaching activities.

The buildings are connected by a large roof surface with distinctive eaves, which gives the complex a recognisable identity and creates a series of roofed outdoor areas between the offset volumes. These zones dissolve the boundary between the indoor and outdoor spaces by creating a diverse transitional zone for learning and physical activities, play, social interaction and relaxation. Special emphasis is put on the spaces in between the buildings.

They are programmed for a double purpose in order to utilise their potential as both access points and links between different functions. These roofed common spaces combine the elements of intimacy and contextualisation that tie the wider complex of school buildings, the central campus and the landscape together.

The Smart School educational complex will have room for 1.040 students, aged from 3 to 18 years, a staff of over 400, divided into several professional groups, and outside users. The complex consists of a pre-school, junior school and high school as well as cultural, leisure and health centres, which are accessible to the public.

The school puts great emphasis on diversity and inclusion so that a minimum of 15% of the student body is reserved for orphans and children with limited physical capabilities. Therefore, a part of the site will contain a special settlement, where the orphaned children live with their foster families.

Project Facts

Location: Irkutsk, Russia

Client: Smart School Project

Size: 31.000 m2 New Building and 20 ha Master Plan

Year: 2015-

Status: Ongoing

Lead Architect: CEBRA

Architect: UNK Project

Landscape Architect: Vega Landdskab

Engineer: Niras

> via CEBRA