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Press Release

The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School

A' Design Award 2023 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design

20 April 2023

The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School by Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.
The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School by Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.
The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School by Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.
The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School by Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.
The Circle Xinqiao Expatriate Children School by Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.

Coast Palisade Consulting Group Ltd.

The Circle is an international school in Hefei Airport New Area, China. The school includes a kindergarten, a primary school and a middle school, with ninety classes across a building area of 40,000 square meters. In response to the park and lake view to the west and the oval shape of the site, the building opens toward the park in an embracing gesture. School life is arranged around a central sports field, so most rooms gain a wide view. The kindergarten stands as a separate building. Highly modular construction limits the number of module types and shortens building time.

Press Kit

Unique Properties
As the first international school in Hefei Airport New Area, it includes kindergarten, primary school and middle school. In response to the large park and lake view on the west side, as well as the oval shape of the site, the building opens to the park in an embracing gesture. It innovatively makes all kinds of school life revolve around the central dynamic space. Integrate eastern philosophy of equality into architectural form and living conditions.
Dimensions & Packaging
The building area is 40,000 square meters, including 90 classes.
Tags
International School, circle, middle school, primary school, high school, culture, hefei, international town
Production Technology
The design of the school enhances its prefabrication rate by being highly modular. Although the building is circular and has many curves, after research, the types of modules have been greatly reduced, which not only saves energy consumption, but also saves construction time and avoids environmental pollution.
Design Challenge
1.The standard field of the 400-meter track is a contradiction with the insufficient land area. The traditional layout will cause the building space to be squeezed, and the teaching space will no longer be comfortable. Put the sports field in the center and let the building surround it to ensure that every room has a good view and faces the park. The architectural form is stretched and imposing.
2.The park on the northwest side is a resource that can be used, although it is not within the red line of the land. Consider the sports fields in the school and the sports facilities in the park in a unified manner, so that they are visually connected to form a larger system of physical education venues.
Project Duration
The project started in may 2022 in hefei, china. Won the bid.
Operation Flow
The school consists of two parts: the kindergarten is a separate building because it was built last; the middle school and primary school are in one building, surrounding the playground.
Taking the main entrance as the dividing line, the west side of the main building is the primary school teaching area and dormitory, and the right side is the junior high school and high school. The classrooms are close to the school gate, and the dormitories are at the quiet far end.
Public functions such as the library and gymnasium are located on the lower level and face the playground; classrooms and offices are located above.
Research
Do schools need to be zoned strictly for loud and quiet? This is a subject worth discussing. Due to the very regular behavior of the students, physical exercise and sleep at the same time are rarely seen. So the division of schools can be re-studied and tried.
Inspiration
First, the circular site makes the traditional layout of the grid difficult to be self-consistent, and we need a more fluid space experience.
Secondly, the beautiful park and lake makes any blocking of sight a pity, we need to spread all the building spaces around a dynamic center with the best view and atmosphere.

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