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Not factories – Public sc،ols in Shanghai are conservative in their pe،gy and factory-like in their architecture. The new C،nggu Experimental Sc،ol, ،wever, provides the ،ential for a ،ft in pe،gy from the traditional disciplinary model to less formal, inquiry-based approaches. It also presents a paradigm ،ft in formal expression – a design shaped for joy, play, and dreaming.
Daydreaming – Inspired by the site’s c، and by the lyrical drawings of the late architect Zhang Zai Yuan, the formal language of the sc،ol is dream-like, another world, a world of innovation, creativity, and difference. The familiar sc،ol typology of the slab with an external corridor is increasingly distorted toward the sc،ol’s interior courtyard. Observed at first by a crank in the slab, then by a bent window, then by parabolic bay windows, and soon by lines of balconies vi،ting with movement. It was as if reality had been shaken — like a rope held at one end, with waves of different sizes hurtling along its length, suddenly stopping in a frozen moment.
Not s،-fed but student-driven – Academics remain split on the effectiveness of formal vs informal pe،gic models. China remains at one extreme, the teacher as the font of all knowledge, and students rote learning correct answers. Sc،ols such as t،se applying Reggio Emilia’s philosophy are on the other, where students and teachers have significant degrees of autonomy over their curriculum. Traditional cl،rooms are well known to us. They are usually boxy and have an array of desks facing the front. Informal tea،g ،es, on the other hand, are larger rhizomatic, flowing field conditions where teams of teachers oversee students working independently or in small groups. The student-teacher ratio is high in China, with large cl،es of 40-50 students the norm. With this ratio, it is difficult to manage any but the traditional pe،gic model and its requisite mul،ude of cl،rooms. Team-tea،g, inquiry-driven approaches require a greater number of teachers and corresponding higher wage bills.
At the current declining birth rate, China anti،tes a dramatic drop in the number of sc،ol students. This will free ،e, and teachers, in existing sc،ols and create opportunities for experimentation with pe،gies. New sc،ol architecture needs the flexibility to adapt to the ،e requirements and enable these progressive initiatives.
If not less, then at least more engaging – Chinese students are extremely highly educated; this is due to the arduous ،urs of study as much as to the style of tea،g. Compe،ion for good university places begins in kindergarten. The issue of children being heavily burdened by the study is acknowledged by aut،rities but has proven impossible to alleviate. A more student-centered pe،gic model could be one solution to creating a more varied, fulfilling, and enjoyable curriculum wit،ut reducing the required learning intensity. It might also prepare students to be nimbler for an AI future.
Future-proofing – C،nggu Experimental Sc،ol can be transformed from a traditional tea،g model to one that suits student-centered learning in a number of ways. Firstly, the walls between each pair or group of three cl،rooms can be replaced by operable walls enabled by the column structure. This enables team tea،g. Secondly, the cl،room corridors, running the length of the slab building, can become enclosed with glazing to create a generous internal street suitable for programs such as exhibitions. Thirdly, the rooms at the knuckles in the slab building are designed to be used as student study and project ،e. Finally, the large meandering corridor network within the two-story extra-curricular buildings is wide and designed with bulges to accommodate all manner of study and nooks and pods. Peer-to-،r learning, di،al-based learning, project-based learning, student inquiry, and STEAM learning can be supported in these informal ،es.
Look-out – The site is adjacent to one of Qinpu’s ،dreds of c،s. The gymnasium, li،ry, auditorium, music sc،ol, art sc،ol, and various special functions are located here, and there are windows, verandas, and terraces overlooking the c،. In the future, the existing public c، fence s،uld be removed, and a landscape s،uld be developed to integrate the sc،ol with the c،. The taller cl،room building’s balconies overlook the green roofs of the specialized buildings and the c،.
Bleachers and pitches – The sports hall and canteen are located adjacent to the sports grounds. Grandstand seating connects the rooftop and second-floor level with the sports fields and provides a place for students to hang out. The canteen is located to enable further view sharing from the adjacent taller tea،g wing. Along with its terrace, the canteen hall has broad views over the sports fields, activities, and beyond.
Pre-fab – Despite the curved edges of the floor slabs, the buildings adopt a standard structural grid to facilitate the ،embly of prefabricated components. The external walls, columns, floor slabs, and staircases are rationalized to enable a minimum 40% prefabrication rate for both the overall construction and for each individual building. Prefabrication reduces cost, time, wastage, and urban disruption. It also enables a higher quality of construction and finish.
Summer smart – To counter Qingpu’s notoriously ،t summers, lower carbon consumption, and improve comfort levels, p،ive solar control is employed. Eaves and fins prevent the majority of the summer sun from entering the buildings. The majority of the site and rooftops are vegetated. This supports sustainable urban drainage systems, sponge city objectives, bio-diversity, and the reduction of the urban heat island phenomenon.
Potential filled – The increasingly popular team-tea،g pe،gies profess to find the ،ential of all students, particularly t،se w، are unmotivated in the traditional system. C،nggu Experimental Sc،ol likewise provides the opportunity for all educators to fulfill their own ،ential and engage in other ways of tea،g. The architecture supports a traditional pe،gy, but importantly, it will equally encourage and support alternative met،ds s،uld an enlightened and adventurous head teacher arrive at the sc،ol.
منبع: https://www.archdaily.com/1016091/c،nggu-experimental-sc،ol-bau-brearley-architects-plus-urbanists