The ‘Bridge School’ bridges the two parts of the small village of Xiashi that lie on either side of a small creek running about ten metres below the village. The structure is created by two steel trusses that span the creek with the space between them, housing the functions of the school. Suspended from the structure and running below it is a pedestrain bridge for the people of the village to use. Small and modern in design with no reference to the area’s traditional building style, the school, nonetheless, becomes the physical and spiritual centre of what was a declining village. Placed in such a way that it addresses its surroundings, the Brige School connects two villages together, providing a central, social space. The broader social aspect of the project was part of the brief which was developed to answer
community needs rather than simply those of a primary school. A public library separates the two classrooms and open stages at either ends of the building enable performances. The result is a project that has successfully invigorated the entire community, encapsulating social sustainability through architectural intervention.
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