Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo by Xiaoyi Ma

Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo by Xiaoyi Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Meaho, Dikaho le Dibopego Competition Category.

TšepeMeaho· 2021

Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo

by Xiaoyi Ma

Client: Inclusive Architectural Practice

Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award Winner in Meaho Category

10,455
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #120041

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

Colors

The Design

About Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo

Boxes and Yards ke sekolo sa mathomo se Setereke sa Changping, Beijing, Chaena. Sekolo se koahela sebaka sa kaho sa dimithara tse dikwarantiri tse 29,098 mme se phethetswe ka 2019. Moralo o hlokomolohile mokgwa wa setso wa mesele le diklase tse ka bosiu ho e nka le ho fapana le dihlopha tsa ho ithuta, tse ngwe le tse ngwe di hlophisitswe ho pota lebala la sehlopha se seng le se seng. Mabokose a nang le laebrari, holo ya boikoetliso le kafeteria a fetotswe boemo ho theha diyard tsa boraro-hlakore tse hlahisang leseli la tlhaho le moya o phaphathang. Dibaka tsa ka hare tse nang le mahlakore a mangata di sebediswa jwaka ditsi tse fetohang tsa ho ithuta. Kaho ena e latela ditekanyetso tsa Passive House mme e sebedisa dithepa tse tlhokang tlhokomelo e nyane.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award

Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang e fuoang meralo e metle e finyellang litlhoko tsa porofeshenale le tsa indasteri tse lebelletsoeng ho lintho tse hlahisitsoeng tse entsoeng hantle. Bahapi ba Tšepe ba bontša bokhoni bo boholo, bokhethehi bo phahameng, kutloisiso ea litsebi le bokhoni ba boqapi ba baqapi ba bona. Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlahisitsoeng e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e sebetsang le e nang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Tšepe oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa ea indasteri mme o na le litšobotsi tsa theknoloji tse nang le bokhoni tse amanang le tsebo le talenta. Ka lebaka la botlalo ba eona, Boxes and Yards Sekolo sa Mathomo e tšoanelehela tlhompho mme e entsoe ho fana ka ntlafatso ea bophelo e thusang ho etsa hore lefatše le be sebaka se molemo.

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