Boxes and Yards Bunscoil by Xiaoyi Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Duais Iarainn A' Design Award in Dearadh Ailtireachta, Foirgníochta agus Struchtúir Competition Category.

IarannAiltireacht· 2021

Boxes and Yards Bunscoil

by Xiaoyi Ma

Client: Inclusive Architectural Practice

Duais Iarainn A' Design Award Winner in Ailtireacht Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Boxes and Yards Bunscoil

Is bunscoil í Boxes and Yards i gCeantar Changping i mBéising, an tSín. Clúdaíonn an scoil achar tógtha comhlán 29,098 méadar cearnach agus críochnaíodh í in 2019. Cuireann an leagan amach pobail foghlama in ionad an dearaidh traidisiúnta pasáiste agus seomraí ranga aonair, agus tá gach pobal foghlama dírithe ar seomra suite ranga. Casadh na boscaí ina bhfuil an leabharlann, an giomnáisiam agus an bialann chun clóis thriantánacha a chruthú a thugann solas nádúrtha agus aerú isteach. Feidhmíonn spásanna inmheánacha polagánacha mar ionaid fhoghlama solúbtha. Cloíonn an foirgneamh le caighdeáin Passive House agus úsáideann sé ábhair ísealchothabhála.

The Recognition

About the Duais Iarainn A' Design Award

Bhuaigh an dearadh Boxes and Yards Bunscoil Duais Iarainn A' Design Award, aitheantas gradamach a bhronntar ar dhea-dhearaí a chomhlíonann na riachtanais ghairmiúla agus thionsclaíocha a bhíonn á n-éileamh ó chruthuithe a ndearnadh go maith iad. Léiríonn buaiteoirí Iarainn scil mhór, speisialtóireacht ard, tuiscint saineolaí agus cumas cruthaitheach a gcruthaitheoirí. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an dearadh Boxes and Yards Bunscoil ina chruthú a bhfuil an-mheas air, a n-ardaítear agus a ghráitear atá praiticiúil agus nuálach. Comhtháthaíonn an dearadh seo a bhuaigh Duais Iarainn A' Design Award na cleachtais is fearr sa tionscal agus tá saintréithe teicniúla inniúla aige nasctha le heolas agus le tallann. Tá meas ar an dearadh Boxes and Yards Bunscoil as a dhúthracht agus dearadh é chun feabhsuithe cáilíochta beatha a sholáthar a chabhraíonn leis an domhan a dhéanamh ina áit níos fearr.

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