Australia and Scandinavia belong to two different worlds in terms of language, climate, and geography, but one thing these two disparate places have in common is their high standards of education and innovative strategies for learning. Philosophies from both sides of the globe are now coming together in a new project by Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects and Wilson Architects, who have secured the commission for a new Flagship Education Precinct for Queensland University of Technology.
“Australia leads the global education sector in terms of their approach to learning,” says Anders Sælan, architect and partner at Henning Larsen Architects. “In Scandinavia, we have a strong history in this field, as well, and I think that we can inspire each other and create innovative and effective learning environments by pooling our knowledge and references.”
The most distinctive element of the proposal is Henning Larsen’s extensive use of warm timber, particularly for louvers that wrap around many elevations to act as a passive shading device for the complex. The Danish firm has a strong reputation for its innovative use of timber back in Scandinavia, completing the Umeå School of Architecture and the Umeå Art Museum in 2011, while their NORR National Museum is set to rise in Österund in 2018.
Queensland University of Technology’s green campus is designed to bring the outside in: a scenic meadow makes for an informal meeting area externally, and this language is extended into the atrium, interspersing circulation spaces with generous areas of native grasses and planting. Natural elements will be a prominent feature throughout the complex.
Learn about this landmark project and more over on Henning Larsen Architects’ firm profile page.
