The design of the library building at Xiangnan Engineering High School addresses the aging condition of the existing facility by integrating it with several older teaching buildings. The new structure features an approximately pentagonal layout, measuring 30 meters by 26 meters. It is a three-story building with a maximum height of around 14 meters. The floor heights progressively increase from the first to the third floor, measuring 3.5 meters, 4.5 meters, and 5.5 meters respectively.
Initially, the architect considered separating the spaces based on their distinct functions—classrooms and the library. However, the final design places one classroom and one library on each floor. This integration aims to stimulate students’ potential by encouraging interaction between different learning environments. The classroom adopts an open school concept, with load-bearing reinforced concrete walls varying in layout, size, and shape across floors. The walls on upper floors span over two different walls below, ensuring even distribution of structural loads. This irregular wall arrangement creates a nest-like architectural form, where various spaces are loosely connected, fostering diverse activities for high school students.
When designing this new school building that merges classrooms and library spaces, the architects moved away from traditional enclosed classrooms aimed at student management. Instead, they envisioned an environment where classrooms and libraries mutually inspire each other, encouraging independent discovery, learning, and social connection. The design removes the walls of the traditional rectangular classroom to establish a seamless connection with the outdoors. By minimizing boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, the building responds sensitively to the environment, creating fluid spaces that energize the entire campus.
Moving away from the uniform directional layouts typical of traditional classrooms, the wall arrangement here is intentionally random. In this open setting, walls gently enclose the classroom, allowing users to freely shape their own spaces, resulting in a nest-like layout that encourages creativity and comfort.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second and Third Floor Plans
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Fukui Co., Kousou
Area: 1419 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Shigeo Ogawa
Lead Architect: Yoshiyuki Kawazoe
Design Team: Midori Oshima, Daisuke Komatsu
Architects: Yoshiyuki Kawazoe, Midori Oshima, Daisuke Komatsu
Architectural Firm: Fukui
Location: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up