Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd by Xiaoyi Ma

Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd by Xiaoyi Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award in Pensaernïaeth Competition Category.

HaearnPensaernïaeth· 2021

Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd

by Xiaoyi Ma

Client: Inclusive Architectural Practice

Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award Winner in Pensaernïaeth Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd

Mae Boxes and Yards yn ysgol gynradd yn Ardal Changping, Beijing, Tsieina. Mae'r ysgol yn gorchuddio arwynebedd adeiladwyd gros o 29,098 metr sgwâr ac fe'i cwblhawyd yn 2019. Mae'r cynllun yn disodli'r cynllun corridor traddodiadol ac ystafell ddosbarth unigol gyda chymunedau dysgu, pob un yn canolbwyntio ar lolfa flwyddyn. Mae blychau sy'n dal y llyfrgell, y gampfa a'r ffreutur yn cael eu troi i ffurfio cyntedd trionglog sy'n dod â golau naturiol ac awyriad i mewn. Mae gofodau mewnol amlochrog yn gwasanaethu fel canolfannau dysgu hyblyg. Mae'r adeilad yn dilyn safonau Tŷ Goddefol ac yn defnyddio deunyddiau cynnal a chadw isel.

The Recognition

About the Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award

Mae Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd yn enillydd Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award, cydnabyddiaeth fawreddog a roddir i ddyluniadau da sydd yn bodloni'r gofynion proffesiynol a diwydiannol a ddisgwylir gan greadigaethau wedi'u dylunio'n dda. Mae enillwyr Haearn yn dangos medrusrwydd mawr, arbenigedd uchel, dealltwriaeth arbenigol a gallu creadigol eu crewyr. Disgwylir i Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd fod yn greadigaeth uchel ei bri, a edmygir ac a anwylir, sydd yn ymarferol ac yn arloesol. Mae'r dyluniad buddugol hwn o Wobr Haearn A' Design Award yn integreiddio arferion gorau'r diwydiant ac mae ganddo nodweddion technegol cymwys wedi'u cysylltu â gwybodaeth ymarferol a dawn. Parchir Boxes and Yards Ysgol Gynradd am ei drylwyredd ac fe'i dyluniwyd i ddarparu gwelliannau ansawdd bywyd sydd yn helpu i wneud y byd yn lle gwell.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A Story of Boxes and Yards showcases the first public school in China designed for Learning Anywhere Anytime, which breaks through the finger plan and cell plus bell classroom layout in a traditional school. It is also the first school building in Beijing built in accordance with Passive House Standards. Despite of tight budget, with a multi-dimensional, multi-center system of learning communities, this school with a history of a hundred years has turned into a School of 21st Century.
Dimensions & Packaging: Gross Built Area: 29,098 square meters
Tags: Education, Public school, Passive House, Learner-centered, Eco-friendly
Production Technology: Although the wall finish is mostly latex paint due to tight budget, the building is dynamic and playful with rotated massing and spinning color blocks on walls and floors. The interior polygonal spaces, named as Hub of Intelligence, replacing corridors, serve as Lifestyle Center, Student Center, Makerspace, Cybercafe and other multipurpose learning centers for lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions, performances, and project-based learning, achieving Learning Anywhere, Anytime.
Design Challenge: The challenge came from the conflict of the tight budget and strict building code restrictions against the high expectation on transforming the school with a history of over 100 years to a genuine learner-centered School of the 21st Century. The design team have successfully chosen the most cost-effective, environmental friendly and low-maintenance materials and methods to turn the design intent to the best reality.
Research: The design team have fully implemented the methodology of learning communities to create a school for Learning Anywhere Anytime with a multi-dimensional and multi-center space system. Throughout the design process, the architectural concept was firmly rooted in the idea of education, and spatial layout was a priority over artificial forms. The design team was successful in creating a learning community that is highly versatile in its transparency, openness, interactivity and adaptability.
Inspiration: The learning community centered with a Grade Lounge constitutes the basic unit of space layout and provides a sense of home base, forming a series of boxes together with the library, gymnasium, canteen and other learning facilities. Triangular courtyards are created in between the rotated boxes, introducing ample natural light and ventilation inside. This generative design process, called as a Story of Boxes and Yards, has greatly enhanced openness and interactivity of learning spaces.
Project Duration: The Story of Boxes and Yards, with another name, Huang Cheng Gen Primary School Changping Campus, is located in Changping District of Beijing, China. The project construction was completed in 2019.
Operation Flow: The design team believes that design is an effective tool to make changes in education and future. Education philosophies such as multiple Intelligences by the famous educator Howard Gardener, Education as growth by John Dewey, and the best practice of small learning communities are well embedded in design. The school educators also embrace these concepts and complemented the work of designers with their visions and practice in education.
Team Members: Xiaoyi Ma
Pengfei Chen
Jiajia Wang
Yan Xia
Renzheng Zhu
Yang Ming
Xuejiao Zhou
Chaoyi Meng
Yue Zhao
Yue Wu
Jiequn Liang
Lei Bao
Image Credits: Zhi Xia