Cage Copher, Bogdan Chipara, Deborah Both, Program Architects Peter C. Lippman and Marge Arkitekter
Mattias Hamrén Photography
THIS 5000M2 PROJECT WILL BE HOME TO A UNIQUE SCHOOL THAT SPECIALIZES IN ACTIVITY-BASED LEARNING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY. THE FORM OF THE BUILDING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE FORRESTED HILLS IN THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. THE TERRAIN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROJECT MERGES WITH THE BUILDING BY BECOMING A ROOF-TOP PLAYGROUND OVER THE PARTIALLY SUBMERGED GYM. THE WOODEN FENCE THAT SURROUNDS THIS PLAYGROUND BLENDS WITH THE FAÇADE AND FOLLOWS THE LINES OF THE BUILDING UP TO THREE ROOF-TOP PEAKS SO THAT THE LANDSCAPE, PLAYGROUND AND THREE ROOF-TOPS ARE PART OF THE SAME CONTINUOUS GESTURE. AFTER THE THIRD “PEAK” THE ROOF BECOMES A LARGE GRASS-COVERED MEADOW THAT SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE WEST. A GENTLE CURVE IN THE FAÇADE WAS ADDED TO FOLLOW THE CURVE OF THE STREET SO THAT THE BUILDING SITS COMFORTABLY IN ITS SURROUNDINGS. THIS FACADE IS ALSO LINED WITH GLASS PARTITIONS AT THE ENTRANCE LEVEL TO ACTIVATE THE STREET AND CREATE AN OPEN AND CONNECTED RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY. TO FURTHER SUPPORT THIS RELAT