In recent years, Weiyang District has experienced rapid development, leading to a sharp increase in demand for education alongside a scarcity of available land. It was under these conditions that the comprehensive building project for Weiyang Road Primary School emerged as a design challenge. The site itself is extremely narrow and irregular, surrounded by existing school buildings and high-rise residential towers, creating a complex environment for construction.
The existing school facilities no longer meet the growing demand for student places. The client requested a straightforward solution: to add at least 24 new classrooms along with supporting office spaces. Additionally, the entire design, construction, and handover process needed to be completed within six months, presenting a significant challenge for the design team.
Design Strategy: Air Academy — Balancing Functionality and Environment
Given the tight site constraints, any new building would appear dominant and consume the limited available ground space. To address this, the design team chose to suspend half of the building, thereby preserving open space for the children. The new teaching building extends approximately 8 meters westward, with the lower two floors left open. Teaching activities occur on the upper three to five floors, while the ground level features a running track passing underneath. This ‘suspended’ design preserves the entire playground, ensuring every child retains their ‘right to exercise.’
Stereoscopic Park — Creating a Three-Dimensional Campus Activity Space
With over 2,000 teachers and students, relying solely on ground-level space for activities is impractical. To accommodate everyone, the design shifts the building’s floors horizontally to create multi-scale ‘gray spaces.’ The basketball court, typically on the ground, is relocated to the roof of the new teaching building. Outdoor staircases transform student circulation from a flat plane to a three-dimensional flow, connecting the ground to the roof and forming a continuous external space. This design enriches the limited campus land by offering diverse, multi-level activity areas.
The renovation and expansion of Weiyang Road Primary School’s comprehensive building represents a design challenge defined by environmental and time constraints, as well as an exploration within the urban renewal context. The updated campus offers children diverse, three-dimensional outdoor activity spaces that invigorate the public areas of the school. This ‘Xiuzhen Campus’ aims to radiate unique charm while providing children with memorable and enriching experiences as they grow.
Project Drawings
△ Model diagram
△ Model diagram
△ Model diagram
△ Axonometric diagram
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Sectional perspective
△ Structural analysis diagram
△ Structural analysis diagram
Project Information
Architect: Qu Peiqing Studio of China Northwest Architectural Design and Research Institute
Area: 7,100 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Zhang Xiaoming Camera Team
Manufacturer: Star brand Ushiji, Fulbo, Aluminum Curtain
Lead Designers: Gao Wei, Tang Haitao
Architectural Design Team: Gao Wei, Bai Xue, Tang Haitao
Structural Design Team: Pan Yingbing, Yao Conglin, Liu Wei, Liu Chao, Wang Jun, Gui Heyang
Water Supply and Drainage Design: Chen Yi, Xin Jinshang
Electrical Design: Feng Xiaohua, Shen Hongzhuo
HVAC Design: Zheng Mingjie, Li Junfeng
Intelligent Systems Design: Cha Bo, Nie Chengfei
Interior Design: Guo Wei, An Yuxin
Landscape Design: Liu Jing, Ji Cheng
Construction Owner: Weiyang Road Primary School, Weiyang District, Xi’an City
Construction Contractor: Xi’an Weiyang Urban Construction Group Co., Ltd
User: Weiyang Road Primary School, Weiyang District, Xi’an City
Location: Xi’an, China
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