White Rose Engelse School by Naoko Horibe

White Rose Engelse School by Naoko Horibe is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award in Brons in Architectuur, Gebouwen en Constructieontwerp Competition Category.

BronsArchitectuur· 2023

White Rose Engelse School

by Naoko Horibe

Client: Horibe Associates

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Architectuur Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About White Rose Engelse School

White Rose English School is een school waar kinderen Engelse conversatie kunnen leren. Door de wegen op het schoolterrein eenrichtingsverkeer te maken, kunnen auto's vlot in- en uitrijden en wordt de file op de voorste weg verlicht. De façade is ontworpen in een halve cirkel in plaats van een volledige cirkel, en toont de mogelijkheden van Engels leren die kinderen kunnen verbinden met hun toekomst en de wereld. De vorm van de uitstekende platen aan de gevel drukt de energie en levendigheid van kinderen uit. Door het karakteristieke grote halfronde raam zie je de kinderen vrolijk rondrennen.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

White Rose Engelse School is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. White Rose Engelse School wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. White Rose Engelse School bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: White Rose English School is a school for children to learn English. The facade is designed with semicircles instead of complete circles, showing children's potential in learning English which may lead them to the future and to the world. Design of the front projected portion represents overflowing energy and liveliness of the children. You can see the children joyfully moving from the outside through the big distinctive semi-circle window.
Dimensions & Packaging: A three-story reinforced concrete building. Width 17.8m, depth 11.2m, height 9.98m (height limit 10m). Total floor area 578.53 square meters. Although it is compact, it creates an open space that combines functionality and design by using a stairwell, a large opening, and a protruding slab of about 4m. A more minimalist design was achieved through a structural design in which the pillars do not protrude from the walls. The minimalist design does not interfere with children's imagination.
Tags: school, minimal, simple, for kids, arch, concrete, white, kindergarten
Production Technology: The front road is narrow, and consideration for traffic congestion was required. That's why we built two arches in the building so that you can drop off and pick up your child through the drive-thru without getting wet in the rain. Through these, you can also see the greenery of the park from the road side. And by using glass for the handrails of the internal stairs, we made it possible to see the children's energetic movements from the outside through the large semi-circular windows.
Design Challenge: Shuttle buses can pass under the pilotis. One of the pilotis shall be a 4m protruding slab. A three-story building with a height of 10m or less. Meeting these requirements required a thorough discussion between architectural and structural design. The walls with large arches are also large beams. And they were fused splendidly and became the best architecture.
Research: Architecture has a great impact on the surrounding people, streets, and environment as soon as it is completed. And it will continue to exist in the land for decades, regardless of whether it is used carefully or whether it is familiar with the place. Don't be biased towards only design or functionality. Architecture that has been loved by people for decades, protects people, and fascinates people without fading. That is the style of architecture that we seek.
Inspiration: First of all, this project is a facility for children with a lot of potential for the future. Secondly, it is planned on land close to the Takatsuki Castle ruins park, which is rich in greenery and is loved by citizens. Finally, since it was necessary to make it easy for parents to pick up and drop off their children, we came up with a design that would allow the building itself to serve as a signboard, incorporating soft curves and large openings that allow a view to the other side.
Project Duration: The design for this project started in June 2012 in Osaka. Construction began in May 2013. Construction was completed in April 2014.
Operation Flow: A spacious parking space has been set up to make the facility easy to use not only for children but also for parents. Each floor has ample waiting space, and from the 2nd floor you can see the children learning in the classroom. There is also a baby corner on the first floor, so it is safe to drop off and pick up small children. We hope that this building will be used not only as an English conversation school, but also as a place for the local community and a symbol of the region.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Horibe Associates, 2012
Image Credits: Main Image: Photographer Kaori Ichikawa
Image #1: Photographer Kaori Ichikawa
Image #2: Photographer Kaori Ichikawa
Image #3: Photographer Kaori Ichikawa
Image #4: Photographer Kaori Ichikawa