Boxes and Yards Grundschule by Xiaoyi Ma

Boxes and Yards Grundschule by Xiaoyi Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award in Eisen in Architektur-, Gebäude- und Bauwerksdesign Competition Category.

EisenArchitektur· 2021

Boxes and Yards Grundschule

by Xiaoyi Ma

Client: Inclusive Architectural Practice

A' Design Award in Eisen Winner in Architektur Category

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The Design

About Boxes and Yards Grundschule

Boxes and Yards ist eine Grundschule im Pekinger Bezirk Changping, China. Die Schule umfasst eine Bruttogeschossfläche von 29.098 Quadratmetern und wurde 2019 fertiggestellt. Der Grundriss ersetzt das traditionelle Schema aus Flur und einzelnen Klassenräumen durch Lerngemeinschaften, die sich jeweils um eine Jahrgangslounge gruppieren. Die Baukörper für Bibliothek, Sporthalle und Mensa sind verdreht angeordnet und bilden dreieckige Höfe, die Tageslicht und natürliche Belüftung ins Innere bringen. Polygonale Innenräume dienen als flexible Lernzentren. Das Gebäude folgt dem Passivhaus-Standard und verwendet wartungsarme Materialien.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Eisen

Boxes and Yards Grundschule ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Eisen, einer prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für gute Designs, die die beruflichen und industriellen Anforderungen erfüllen, die an gut gestaltete Schöpfungen gestellt werden. Eisen-Gewinner zeigen großes Können, hohe Spezialisierung, fachkundiges Verständnis und die kreative Kapazität ihrer Schöpfer. Von Boxes and Yards Grundschule wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgeschätzte, bewunderte und geliebte Schöpfung ist, die praktisch und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Eisen prämierte Design integriert bewährte Branchenverfahren und weist kompetente technische Merkmale in Verbindung mit Know-how und Talent auf. Boxes and Yards Grundschule wird für seine Gründlichkeit geschätzt und ist darauf ausgelegt, Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität zu liefern, die dazu beitragen, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen.

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