White Rose 英語學校 by Naoko Horibe is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 建築、樓宇及結構設計 Competition Category.

銅建築· 2023

White Rose 英語學校

by Naoko Horibe

Client: Horibe Associates

A' Design Award 銅獎 Winner in 建築 Category

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Colors

The Design

About White Rose 英語學校

白玫瑰英語學校是一所為孩子學習英語會話的學校。透過將校園內的道路設為單向，汽車可以順利進出，前方道路的擁塞也將得到緩解。立面設計為半圓形而不是完整的圓形，展示了英語學習的可能性，可以將孩子與未來和世界聯繫起來。立面上突出的樓板形狀表達了孩子們的活力和活潑。透過特色的半圓形大窗戶，可以看到孩子們快樂地跑來跑去。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅獎

White Rose 英語學校是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主，這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品，印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計White Rose 英語學校將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品，兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐，並因注重細節而出類拔萃。White Rose 英語學校出色地滿足需求，觸動渴望，迷住情感，並吸引好奇心。

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