Bringing harmony and sense to the surrounding context, the proposal by Kamvari Architects for the Crete Bioclimatic School creates a simple linear movement across the site, looking inwards towards the heart of the school. This subtle exterior introduces excitement and fun to the interior while giving the school an impression of enclosure and security, but sustaining the sense of its landscape setting. More images and architects' description after the break.
Sitting nearly 4 meters above the landscape connecting 2 embankments together, our proposal runs from east to west creating an efficient bar that attempts to build on Crete's historic nature as a gateway between east and west. In this way our proposal becomes sixty meter bridge, formally laid-out in exciting and interesting learning environments surrounded by magnificent views combined with a tapestry of different plants, grasses, ponds, mathematical puzzles and scientific objects.
The building fulfills a complex brief – it looks out at the landscape, yet into the school to create and interesting internal enclosure . There is an equally interesting story to tell with regard to how it physically represents the liberal philosophical position of Crete and current educational trends. We also used an algorithm to derive louvers with orientation in regards to internal use, as well as external forces.
Our proposal is innovative, yet it embraces traditional materials. If every space and surface is utilized in order to create new and exciting ways of exploring a school, our school does everything the drab and uninteresting typical school does not.
Architects: Kamvari Architects
Location: Crete, Greece
Project Director: Omid Kamvari
Project Team: Maryam Mivehchi, Natalie Chelliah, Nazanin Behboodikhah, Mona Mirzaie, Afhsin Koupaie, Mehrshad Atashi, Nazaneen Shamloo, Muhammad Essmaelirad
Competition: Bioclimatic School
