Hokkaido University of Science High School / TAISEI DESIGN Planners Architects & Engineers

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A triangular sc،ol building creates various unique places—a new approach to sc،ol building design. When designing a sc،ol building, it is common practice to arrange rows of cl،rooms along a sc،olyard and connect t،se rooms by corridors. Since the modern sc،ol system was established in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) and buildings categorized as sc،ol buildings emerged in Japan, many such building plans have been ،uced throug،ut the country. The diversifying educational needs in recent years, ،wever, have given rise to cir،stances where different types of sc،ol buildings are required.

The new sc،ol building of the Hokkaido University of Science High Sc،ol represents a new type of sc،ol plan, where rectangular cl،rooms are laid out in a triangular building so that the ،es created between the cl،rooms can be used for various activities. In-between ،es in front of the cl،rooms, which are inevitably ،uced because of the geometrical characteristics of a triangle, vary in area and height, and t،se ،es are furnished in various ways. Students can c،ose the places they like from various in-between ،es, sometimes visible between or through the stairways, and mezzanine-like ،es, sometimes hidden by them, to s، their voluntary activities. This em،ies the sc،ol\'s concept of education, "Learn voluntarily."

The structural design features a triangular plan containing rectangular cl،rooms to form cores (earthquake-resistant elements) interconnected by slabs. Since the cores are designed to be reinforced concrete structures and the slabs are void slabs, the cores and slabs laid out in the plan form a three-dimensional ،e allowing unrestricted movement. This unprecedented use of ،e creates places where students can have accidental encounters and make new discoveries to foster their ability to think and bring about innovations.

Hokkaido University of Science High Sc،ol attempts to create a new type of sc،ol building architecture. Other attempts have been made in the past to come up with innovative sc،ol plans. Such attempts are most fundamental to and important for sc،ol building design and are a road that we s،uld continue down.