△ Illustration of Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp / Photography: Essential Image
In recent years, as living standards have improved across China, families have developed a deeper appreciation for quality education. There is growing emphasis on nurturing “morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and beauty”—especially in aspects related to physical health and aesthetics. These qualities reflect both the natural development and the enhancement of cultural values in children and adolescents. This focus has gained increasing attention from parents and society alike.
However, many traditional school campuses lack quality outdoor activity spaces, which play a vital role in fostering well-rounded personality development in young people. The experience of home isolation and prolonged online learning during the pandemic has reshaped how students and parents perceive the role of indoor and outdoor educational spaces. This shift highlights the importance of architects innovating educational space planning through thoughtful project design and research.
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp / Photography: Essential Image
Located in Changhua Town, Lin’an District, western Hangzhou, the Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp sits amidst an open natural grassy slope, with the original ecological environment well preserved. The surrounding natural landscape offers a unique advantage for outdoor education and exploration. Yet, the project faced challenges, such as exceeding conventional campus plot ratios to fulfill functional needs, which doubled the spatial density.
△ Project Location
The GWP design team approached these unconventional conditions with careful research rather than rushing into design. They studied youth education and psychology alongside the school’s unique “Xiali Camp” model, gaining a clear understanding of young people’s needs for campus form and space. Children and adolescents, undergoing rapid growth, naturally possess vivid imaginations and a strong urge to explore their surroundings. They require ample, continuous space to express their vitality and connection with nature. Through thoughtful guidance, the school environment integrates aesthetic and cultural elements into daily learning and living, fostering constructive dialogue and a shared “civilized spirit.”
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp / Photography: Essential Image
By analyzing user needs, the team clearly defined the indoor and outdoor architectural features required for the “outdoor sports school” educational model. Inspired by the playful and exploratory spirit of a paper airplane, the architecture expresses volume variation, personality, and spatial flow. Through material choices and forms, it stimulates young minds’ imagination and encourages continuous exploration across diverse indoor and outdoor environments—facilitating new knowledge acquisition and personal growth.
△ Shape Generation Analysis
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp / Photography: Essential Image
To help students adapt to this new learning approach and support diverse and personalized development, the GWP team designed the architecture to integrate seamlessly with the mountain landscape through staggered forms. This enhances students’ sense of closeness to the natural surroundings. The building facades feature a rich variety of materials and colors, contrasting white and natural wood tones as well as grilles and glass. These contrasts create a dynamic and engaging environment that deepens students’ sensory experience.
△ Staggered Architectural Forms / Photography: Essential Image
△ Architectural Grilles and Glass / Photography: Essential Image
Open and flexible architectural spaces foster dynamic indoor and outdoor learning experiences across various scenarios. While maintaining traditional functional zoning, the dormitory and teaching buildings are connected into an integrated elevation. Convenient pathways enable flexible teaching anywhere on campus—from buildings to outdoor corners—efficiently linking all functional zones and ensuring safety throughout.
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp / Photography: Essential Image
The landscape design echoes the architectural roof forms while making full use of the site’s natural features. By blurring boundaries between indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, it creates diverse areas for viewing, resting, communication, and activities. This design enables a natural transition between indoor and outdoor learning environments.
Given the tight site constraints, the team creatively incorporated three rooftop gardens as vertical extensions of teaching and recreational spaces. These gardens serve as collective activity areas, spontaneous performance stages, and venues for varied student events, enriching the campus life experience.
△ Roof Garden
Throughout project development, the GWP team maintained close collaboration with technical consultants, ensuring all design specifications were accurately translated into construction. This approach enhanced construction efficiency and guaranteed quality control, truly embodying the goal of “empowering practice with technology and managing quality.”
In particular, by integrating green building standards, energy-saving technologies, and environmental epidemic prevention measures, the project helps schools appreciate the value of a healthy natural environment and the importance of sustainable development, offering concrete support for superior outdoor education in the post-pandemic era.
Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp Night Scene / Photography: Essential Image
From the educational approach to the architecture itself, Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp places students at the heart of the campus. It aims to imbue the environment with educational depth, encouraging students to “spread their wings and grow happily” within this inspiring space.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan © GWP Architects
△ First Floor Plan © GWP Architects
△ Second Floor Plan © GWP Architects
△ Third Floor Plan © GWP Architects
△ Fourth Floor Plan © GWP Architects
△ Elevation Drawing © GWP Architects
△ Elevation Drawing © GWP Architects
△ Section Diagram © GWP Architects
Project Information
Project Name: Lin’an Fengzhigu International Camp
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Design Period: May 2019 – January 2020
Status: Completed and Operational
Land Area: 2,804 m²
Building Area: 5,362 m²
Architectural Design: GWP Architecture Firm
Main Materials: Concrete, Glass, Aluminum, Paint
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