Gold Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2020
Gearing International School of Debrecen
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: ISD - International School of Debrecen
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 43,825
- Verification code 9D64A96298 · Verify this award
About Gearing International School of Debrecen
The conceptual circle shape of the International School of Debrecen symbolizes protection, unity and community. The different functions appear like connected gears, pavilions on a string arranged on an arc. The fragmentation of space creates a variety of community areas between the classrooms. The novel space experience and the constant presence of nature help students in creative thinking and manifesting their ideas. The pathways leading to the offsite educational gardens and the forest complete the circle concept creating an exciting transition between the built and natural environment.
Situated within the trajectory of twenty-first century educational architecture, BORD Architectural Studio's Gearing International School of Debrecen exemplifies a thoughtful synthesis of contemporary formal experimentation with the functional imperatives of learning environments. The building participates in an ongoing architectural conversation concerning the relationship between pedagogical philosophy and spatial expression, suggesting through its dynamic roofscape and generous glazing a commitment to openness, intellectual curiosity, and creative engagement. The compositional strategy employs a village-like aggregation of distinct yet interconnected volumes, each articulated through angular roof planes that resist the monotony often associated with institutional buildings while maintaining coherent formal logic. The architects demonstrate particular sensitivity to the transitional zone between interior and exterior, establishing through the ground-level glass band a visual permeability that invites engagement while the warm interior illumination visible through the transparent membrane suggests welcome and activity within. The material vocabulary of rendered plaster and glass evokes modernist precedents while the geometric complexity of the massing introduces contemporary dynamism. The chromatic restraint allows the sculptural qualities of light and shadow to animate the facade throughout the day, transforming the building into a sundial of sorts that marks temporal passage through shifting luminosity patterns. The photograph captures this quality with particular eloquence at the threshold moment of twilight when artificial and natural light achieve equilibrium. One might consider how the angular geometries suggest intellectual energy and creative thinking appropriate to educational mission, while the grounded horizontal base provides stability and accessibility. The work invites contemplation of how architectural form might embody and inspire the aspirational qualities of learning communities.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The conceptual circle shape of the International School of Debrecen (I S D) symbolizes protection, unity and community. The different functions appear like pavilions on a string, arranged on an arc. The fragmentation of space creates a variety of community areas between the classrooms. The novel space experience and the constant presence of nature help students in creative thinking and manifesting their ideas. The pathways leading to the offsite educational gardens and the forest complete the circle concept creating an exciting transition between the built and natural environment.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Sum net area: 7400 m2
Capacity: 500 students - Tags
- ISD, education, high school, Debrecen, pulsing spaces, simplicity, ring, arc of a circle, pavilon-like classrooms, permeated by light
- Production Technology
- Our energy efficiency concept contains surface heating and cooling with lower risk of allergic conditions, natural ventilation of the aisle area of the upper floor, geothermal heating of the gym by sinking it 5 metres lower than ground level, rainwater recovery by infiltration basins so water is released into the soil instead of the drain system, with regards to the neighbouring Natura 2000 protected forest. We believe smart designed energy gained straight and gently from nature is the highest efficiency mechanical equipment.
- Design Challenge
- Throughout the planning phase, the biggest challenge was to create a modern and extraordinary looking building that blends in with its outstanding environment and at the same time meets the needs of the educational standards of the International School of Debrecen (I S D) and has an accentuated role in urban development.
- Project Duration
- After winning the design contest of the International School of Debrecen (I S D) in June 2017, the planning phase started in September 2017 and finished within an unusually short period of time in February 2018. The handover of the construction site took place in June 2018 and the building has been completed in the Summer of 2019. The International School of Debrecen opened its doors to its first students on 1st Sept 2019.
- Operation Flow
- We asked teachers and students how the interior spaces influence their everydays, their answer was beyond our expectation:
The spaces are a great deal helpful in education as it does not stop in the classrooms, it happens in the hubs hiding in the wave-like aisles, sitting on top of the pyramid facing the entrance, outside in the yard and all the way to the forest. Everything supports learning and wellbeing of children, the ample spaces are full of natural light. With its gestures and appearance the building already reaches over its own built boundaries since within its walls enthusiasm, curiosity and smile are boundless. - Inspiration
- The circle with its simplicity is traditionally a spontaneous form of human gathering. It is a space without divisions or differentiations, a symbol of community. The circle symbol is a true expression of the mission of the school, the first and foremost aim of which is to build an open-minded, emphatic, helpful and responsibly thinking future community. The shaping of the volumes and spaces highlight the worthy presence of natural environment and encourage inventive teaching and learning.
- Image Credits
- Main image: Photographer Gyorgy Palko
Optional Image #1: Photographer Gyorgy Palko
Optional Image #2: Photographer Anna Illes
Optional Image #3: Photographer Anna Illes
Optional Image #4: Photographer Anna Illes
Video Credits: Infographic Designer Donat Ertsey and Photographer Gyorgy Palko
Colors of Gearing International School of Debrecen
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We create award-winning architectural designs that harmonize with nature and enhance human well-being. From stadiums to schools, our Budapest studio delivers complete solutions across Europe with integrated architecture, landscape, and engineering expertise.
G0E23 ShopDesign Interview about Gearing International School of Debrecen
I wanted to create a building that is a symbol in itself, that is capable of fulfilling the role of a sign and express the standards of the International School of Debrecen. The circle is not only a spontaneous form of human gathering but also a shape that unifies nature and its built environment into harmony.
I tried to find conceptional lines in an obvious, built form. The aim was to realize the basic motif in a didactic way.
It took relatively long as we were responsible for the general designer too. We won the contract through an open architectural design competition. The entire process lasted for about two years.
When I saw the invitation for the competition I felt like it was a perfect task for me. The protected Nature 2000 area that is right next to the plot was extremely challenging. It was also an inspiration that I could design a building for an open, global community.
The most exciting element of the concept is the connection between the forest and the building. The pavilion like classrooms are placed on a circle line. On the same arc there are educational gardens connecting the building and the forest. In the forest there are educational pathways and kids can trod their own paths too thus closing the circle concept themselves.
I like the works of Tadao Ando. He often uses circle as a symbol of unity and harmony.
The pavilion like classrooms, the light courts between them and the cogwheel pattern show the purpose of the institution very well.
We made an effort throughout the design progress to exhibit a coherent unity of the cogwheel pattern both on the building and in its environment. On the different levels like the park level, the first floor or the roof there are different kinds of cogwheels. The mutual reflection of these provide the special attraction of the building.
BORD Architectural Studio dealt with the general design, we provided the entire engineering background of the project.
Of course the closeness of the forest has many advantages. Accordingly, ecological issues were of utmost importance. In the early hours of the day there is a huge amount of cool air from the direction of the forest which we use for cooling the building.
We only had a year for the completion of the building. It was very important to use the most simple and easily available construction technologies. We also divided the building into four independent structures so we could implement as many work processes simultaneously as possible.
An international award is not only for architects, it is also important for the facilitator of the building, the school too. Feedback is essential that the institution chooses the best solutions in all aspects in order to provide the best education for the students.
This building was designed for a community and each participant could follow the stages of progress from the beginning to the end. Concerning communication this building was a great challenge for me, I think.
Grand Interview about Gearing International School of Debrecen
Buildings born from strong concepts develop a strong identity that becomes part of everyday life. The circular form evokes ideas of unity, community and belonging. From the first encounter, students and parents can sense that this is a special place to be part of, where spatial organization actively supports social interaction and a shared educational experience.
The site is located on the outskirts of Debrecen, surrounded by small residential buildings and the agricultural facilities and gardens of the University of Debrecen. Here, the Great Forest no longer appears as an urban park, but as a truly natural woodland. The presence of the Natura 2000–protected forest is a powerful and humbling experience — one can immediately sense the strength and continuity of nature. This atmosphere fundamentally shaped our design approach.The curved mass of the building is positioned along the forest edge, establishing a clear dialogue between architecture and landscape. The outdoor communal areas are placed between the school and the forest, forming a transitional zone where community gardens, playgrounds, sports fields and pathways complement the building’s geometry. These landscape elements continue the arc initiated by the architecture, gradually dissolving it into the natural environment.At the point where the circular form and the forest intersect, we envisioned an organically evolving zone shaped over time by the school community itself. Through the creation of nature trails and outdoor learning spaces, this area encourages quiet observation of the forest and its local ecosystem. Rather than dominating nature, the school invites students to understand it — fostering a respectful, attentive coexistence that frames sustainability not only as a design principle, but as a lived educational experience.
Classrooms are arranged in two staggered rows along the inner and outer arc of the building, forming a pavilion-like system. The circulation corridor is located between these two rows, and where it widens in front of classroom entrances, naturally occurring interstitial spaces are created. These zones offer ideal settings for gathering, informal interaction, and small-group activities outside the traditional classroom environment.
The gymnasium is the largest space in the school, with an interior height of nearly 10 meters. We integrated this volume into the overall concept as a distinct architectural element, positioned at the focal point of the curved layout and partially sunk approximately five meters below ground level. By embedding the gymnasium into the terrain, we are able to take advantage of the natural insulating properties of the soil, allowing the space to be passively tempered throughout both winter and summer.Outdoor sports courts were created on the roof of the gymnasium, connected by bridges to the upper-level classrooms of the main building and by stairs directly to the courtyard. Through this spatial integration, the gymnasium’s volume became not only a functional sports facility, but also one of the key settings of the school’s communal life.
When our studio was founded 20 years ago, as a newly established practice, survival in the market depended on our ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines. This mindset has remained a defining part of our studio culture ever since and has been naturally adopted by our younger colleagues as well.Regular participation in national and international design competitions keeps our team flexible, adaptive and focused. This competition-driven approach allowed us to maintain design integrity and innovation even within the tight timeframe of the International School of Debrecen.
We designed wide, bright circulation spaces and staircases that function as more than simple routes through the building. Seating surfaces, benches and informal learning corners are integrated organically into these aisles, creating places where students can gather, talk, play or work together as part of everyday movement through the school.In key areas, such as the entrance hall and the courtyard, we designed broader, stepped seating elements for larger groups, supporting collective activities and shared experiences. The classrooms themselves are based on an octagonal floor plan, a geometry that naturally directs attention toward the center while conveying a sense of equality. This spatial approach aligns with modern educational methodologies by encouraging interaction, inclusivity and flexible use of space beyond traditional frontal teaching models.
The recognition highlights a design approach where architectural innovation and educational functionality are inseparable. A coherent spatial concept, a strong connection to the unique forest setting, and a clear emphasis on community allow the school to function as both an efficient learning environment and a meaningful architectural identity. This balance was central to the project’s success.
The functions arranged in the courtyard — educational gardens and sports fields — complete the building’s curved form, extending it into a full circle. We aimed to leave the forest untouched while still showcasing its beauty. Where the arc of the school meets the forest, we designed nature trails that create a gentle, seamless transition from the built environment into the pristine woodland.
The school’s spaces, aligned with the circular motif symbolizing unity, protection, and equality, are open, bright, and spacious. Their connection to nature creates an inspiring environment that encourages empathy, collaboration, and open-minded thinking.
Natural light was prioritized primarily to enhance wellbeing and create a bright, inspiring learning environment. At the same time, sustainability measures were integrated: a ground-source heat pump provides efficient heating and cooling, and rainwater is collected to irrigate the gardens. Together, these strategies balance comfort, energy efficiency, and a healthy, uplifting atmosphere for students and staff.