Danish CEBRA architecture revealed a new school project in Dubai, achieving sustainable standards in the hot climate of Dubai. CEBRA has designed the project in close cooperation with Danish landscape architects SLA and Diamond Developers through the Act NOW partnership. 

The school is planned to be built inside the first residential community of its kind in Dubai, and the project aims at rethinking teaching and learning environments in a sustainable way. 

The school's administration office view. Image © CEBRA & SLA

The School offers a modern alternative to the often very dense and air-conditioned school buildings that the users often experience in hot climates. The students pass directly from the classrooms and out into open learning landscapes with greenery, wind towers and shaded outdoor spaces that ensure a pleasant climate for all students and teachers, where students stay and learn as much outside as inside.

The school's courtyard presents big open space with curvilinear forms. Image © CEBRA & SLA

''We had to rethink the school in our design. Why not take advantage of the warm climate, move many of the functions of the school away from artificial air-conditioned rooms, and out in a naturally ventilated, cooled environment?'' asks architect and head of CEBRA Int, Abu Dhabi branch, Mikkel Hallundbæk Schlesinger. He continuous: ''CEBRA has worked extensively with learning architecture since we established the office in 2001, but this is the first time we design a school, in which the climate and vegetation constitute active design parameters'', says Mikkel Schlesinger.

Sustainable school's roof -designed for sports facilities. Image © CEBRA & SLA

At ground level, the school opens towards its surroundings- the sustainable city. The green vegetation of the city continues into the school and up the facades. In addition, the students actively contribute to the green landscape by growing their own gardens with vegetables and flowers.

CEBRA's sustainable school-axonometric model. Image © CEBRA & SLA

CEO of Diamond Developers Mr. Faris Saeed said, ''Every building in TheSustainable City is designed to smoothly integrate with the city as a whole, we wanted to make sure students will learn outside the school walls as much as they learn inside it''

The designers at CEBRA & SLA have managed to create a wonderful combination of function and green space, which will provide a pleasant and stimulating learning environment for a future generation.

CEBRA's initial sketch showing functions and placements. Image © CEBRA

The School is to be an integrated part of The Sustainable City, which is developed by Diamond Developers, the city consists of townhouses and courtyard villas, which are inspired by the urban fabric and heritage of Dubai’s old ‘Bastakyia’ district, a sustainable hotel and resort and an innovation center. All wastewater is treated and reused and additionally the city produces more energy from solar cells and solar panels than it uses. 

CEBRA's initial sketch for programming of school units. Image © CEBRA

A green corridor runs through the entire city while biodomes offer urban farming. A theme that the school integrates with urban farming for students. A school that reflects the outside world inside the school.

Project Facts

Location: The Sustainable City, Dubai, UAE
Client: Diamond Developers
Size: 10,000 m2
Architect: CEBRA
Landscape: SLA
Collaboration: Act NOW

Top image © CEBRA & SLA

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