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Architects: KRIS YAO | ARTECH
- Area: 156180 m²
- Year: 2015
Text description provided by the architects. This project is located on an expansive wooded slope, and in the middle of the campus is a landscaped pond, its two sides linked by the Great Vow Bridge. The school focuses on harmony with nature and ecologically sustainable growth. The buildings are mostly short multistory structures, squat volumes with minimal excavation needed.
A retaining wall with a staircase of 1,590 steps allows access to different elevations on the hillside. There are three main buildings positioned according to local conditions: the Multi-Purpose Building, the Chan Bliss House, and the Sports Complex. Platforms, corridors and bridges link all the spaces together, providing free access, expanding the activity areas, and highlighting the dramatic qualities of the adjoined spaces. The overall style is imbued with a sense of age, so upon completion the buildings show no unexpected novel elements, and will retain its features even after many decades.
The Multi-Purpose Building exhibits its timeless style in architectural concrete, and its rooftop greenery helps make it one with nature. The long staircase constructed along the contours of the hillside is a primary scene for campus life. Corridors, balconies and other semi-outdoor spaces are staggered, providing visual perspective both indoor and out, each enhancing the other’s visual quality and providing a framing effect.
The Chan Bliss House is a student dormitory. Pebbledash façades create a simple, clean style, rectangular balcony grating and tic-tac-toe patterns give it an organic yet geometric feel, and the atrium gardens contain natural-looking pools that attract birds, for a refined pond-side setting.
The Sports Complex is built out of architectural concrete in two adjacent volumes, one square and one long. The ceiling of the square volume is seven meters high, for a broad activity venue. The long volume is made up of irregular convex and concave box-like spaces for an intriguing visual effect.
Skylights let in sunlight for an improved light and shade effect, and the design takes advantage of the sloping terrain of the valley to channel fresh air into the interior spaces. The natural lighting and ventilation make it an excellent place for activities and contemplation.
