Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako by Evolution Design

Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako by Evolution Design is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

HiriwaRoto Whare· 2023

Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako

by Evolution Design

Client: Evolution Design

A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Roto Whare Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #147724

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako

He pokapū ako a Square mō tētahi whare wānanga i Huiterangi. Kua hangaia te wāhi o roto hei mahere tuwhera, ā, e ahu mai ana i te whakaaro o te honohono mutunga kore me te maha o ngā mahi ka taea. E hipoki ana te hoahoa i te 7000 mita pūrua pea, puta noa i ngā papa tuarua e rua, tētahi papa raro me tētahi rūma o raro whenua. Ka honoa ngā wāhi mahere tuwhera ki ngā rūma tekau mā rima, tētahi wharekai me tētahi rūma whakatā. Mā tētahi kete taputapu o ngā taonga whare nekeneke, ngā utauta whakaatu, tētahi atamira ka taea te whātui, ngā whāriki me ngā tipu ka taea te whakarite i ia wāhi mō te kaupapa e tū ana. Kua whakauruhia ngā wīra hurihuri ki te nuinga o ngā taonga, kia wātea ai te neke haere.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hiriwa

Ko Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Square Te Hoahoa o Roto mō te Pokapū Ako he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Built as an open grid, Square is based on the concept of unbroken connectivity and multifunctionality. All spaces can be used for dynamic learning and teaching scenarios – from communication, collaboration and presentations in large groups to concentration and individual work. Most spaces are, therefore, equipped with movable furniture and equipment that perfectly match the requirements of the event taking place and the number of people in attendance.
Dimensions & Packaging: With a total area of around 7000 square meters, Square has two upper floors, a ground floor and a basement.
Tags: SQUARE, HSG, University of St. Gallen (HSG), learning design, learning concept
Production Technology: To accommodate the daily changes in use of space, the interior architects developed a customized toolbox concept – a set of elements like furniture, presentation equipment, a foldable stage, rugs and plants – all of which can be easily combined to create distinctive layouts and atmospheres within the open plaza. To increase the spatial versatility, most items – from chairs and stools to whiteboards, tables and plants – are fitted with castor wheels allowing the items to be moved around freely.
Design Challenge: Our main task was supporting the artistic director’s team in modelling countless learning and event scenarios that can take place in Square and developing a comprehensive scheme of furniture, presentation equipment and architectural elements that would satisfy the current and future uses of the space. Additionally, we also designed the cafeteria and all 15 learning and meeting rooms.
Research: The University of St. Gallen aims to become a symbol of innovation in education and the new learning center is an important step towards achieving this goal. Built as a prototype for the university of the future, Square encourages dialogue between science, society, business, politics and culture. In the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the university, the Hsg Foundation received around 65 million Swiss francs in donations to build Square as well as to support its content development in the initial phase.
Inspiration: Square is an experimental field for new, future-oriented forms of learning and teaching. It was designed not to be just another university campus building, but rather a home to new ideas and concepts, experimentation and debate. The building was designed by Sou Fujimoto, and Evolution Design was commissioned to develop a comprehensive interior and learning concept that enables experimental learning and teaching and to fit out the building and several roof terraces.
Project Duration: The construction of the project started in November 2019 and was completed in November 2021. The interior fit-out project started in June 2021 and was completed in February 2022.
Operation Flow: Square consists of open plan areas – designed as an inspiring journey through the building – and fifteen rooms extended across three floors. The ground floor welcomes visitors with a cafeteria, a lounge, rooms for learning and pop-up events and the main open plaza. This is a bustling space where activities change daily: ranging from events with the participation of external guests to workshops, masterclasses and courses, and students working in groups on their projects.
Team Members: Carolin Michalka
Jessica Mentz
Zhiyang Chiu
Patrik Uihlein
Dariusz Florczak
Stuart Dickens
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #2: Gataric Fotografie, 2022. Image #3: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #4: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022. Image #5: Photographer Peter Wuermli, 2022.