7. the school beneath the hills



view from within solar well


2019
b.sc. y3 s2


            the idea of creating a new topography, of raising the existing green open landscape to wrap around and over the school, gradually morphed into the vision of creating a safe haven beneath the hills. this was coupled with the need for protection and introversion on the western face (with negative space / void as the tool) versus reaction and extroversion on the eastern face (with positive space as the tool).

the forms which developed from this concept were organic and derived from this imagined topography, while always seeking to create a quasi-biological meshwork of physical and visual links to foster a sense of community within the school.


school masterplan




initial sketches & development



cluster ground floor plan

cluster first floor plan

cluster second floor plan






section & detail




western elevation facing central  playspace

eastern elevation facing central  playspace

 eastern ‘front’ elevation facing street

central outdoor playspace

terrace spaces

classroom interior

classroom detail






physical model


final presentation
Mark