In Reykjavík, a wildland park area with around 146.453 m² aims to be transformed into a space for the community, with a circular shape kindergarten and elementary school that embraces the children and the landscape. The school complex will hold classrooms for around 720 kids from 1 to 15 years old, a gym pavilion, a leisure and community center, a new bridge, as well as new pedestrian and bicycle lanes that will enhance the new landscaped park.
The bridge is an important landmark for the area and the most important transportation artery between the residential area and the school buildings.
By connecting the west to the east side of the plot, the project seeks to be the merging platform between the cities in each direction, the school building, and the landscaped park.
Through a rounded gesture, a protective ring is created around a garden that can be used by the children and contemplated at a distance by the neighbors.
The inclusion of both urban and natural environments presents itself as the main point in the definition of an organic but solid volumetry, that does not seek to separate but rather merges different program sizes.
Internally, the program is divided into 4 big “wings” that can be built in 3 phases.
The first phase holds the classrooms for the younger kids in the kindergarten for ages 1 to 9 years old in one wing and another wing with all common areas (canteen, multipurpose hall, administration, and a small sports hall).
The second phase holds the classrooms for elementary school and junior high for bigger kids from 10 to 15 years old on a third wing, with also common areas that are required in a fourth and last wing. The third phase is an extension of the areas of the classroom, so the number of classrooms can increase over time since the height and structure will be designed accordingly.
The shape of the building allows the connection among all “wings” and each wing can operate alone since there are multiple entrance options according to the students' classroom-age and building programs. Also, the gym is positioned to be used independently after school hours.
From a linear and standard layout classroom to an interactive, dynamic, and playful new layout, where classrooms are divided by light and flexible partitions, that can be reshaped according to the teaching needs. This classroom model highly increases the educational and personal development of each kid, while strengthening the relationship between kids and adults.