An architecture school that embodies the study it professes.

Architecture is widely agreed to be one of the most grueling academic courses, entailing hours worth of design assignments, model making, practical and theory subjects, and mandatory internships. Architectural education is a complex, non-conventional process and its creative demands must be supported by an understanding of art, science, psychology, mathematics, and engineering. However, are our institutions equipped with the means to handle such a complex scope of the study?

Despite the elaborate program, there clearly exists a large gap between education and the practice of architecture. The dated methods used in architectural education do not reflect the real challenges a fresh graduate would face in the field. In essence, what if an architecture institute could embody these details in and of itself? Become a manifestation of the “see and learn” principle?

Challenge was to design an Architecture School that is the very embodiment of the study it professes. The school should not be just an institution for architecture but also function as a laboratory for architecture, where students are fully engaged while learning. A dedicated facility can open up an avenue for a school of architecture to have its own unique identity, to put on display what it preaches, and with spaces specifically designed keeping in mind the multifarious requirements of the students in this course. 

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals, and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

 

Etan Kimmel, Co-Founder, Kimmel Eshkolot Architects, Israel

Ignacio José Imwinkelried, Mtr. Arch. Founding Partner, Deriva Taller de Arquitectura, Argentina

Daniel Homero Huespe, Arch. Founding Partner, DERIVA taller de arquitectura, Argentina

Andreas Schüring, Founder, ANDREAS SCHÜRING ARCHITEKTEN BDA, Germany

François Valentiny, Prof. Mag. Arch., Valentiny hvp architects, Luxembourg

Some of the Best of competition projects as follows:

 

Winning Project: Tabula Rasa School

By: Alexandra Kalendareva

Description: The project is an Architectural Learning School-Workshop designed around the “see-and-learn” idea. There are large public study spaces, exhibition halls, small laboratory classes. The central part of the facade is created on the basis of a gravitational approach, which visually helps students to understand the essence of gravity in architecture.

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People’s Choice: Norway Architecture Academy

By: Shayan Rakhshan

 

Description: The Architecture school’s concept is based on interaction, cause interaction can help improve the learning process. Students can achieve better results and have better criticism by creating interaction between themselves and professors and people of society.

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Editor’s Choice: Mirrors don't lie

By: Xsenia Toropova & Anastasia Filatova

Description: The concept of our architecture school is based on mirrors uses in exterior and psychological aspects of students learning. Architecture and the mirror have more things in common than it may seem at first sight. Architecture just like a mirror reflects society, its social process, and needs.

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Editor’s Choice: The Northern lights

By: Anastasia Askerko

Description: The idea of this collage project is to create a creative place where there will be a desire to create and develop a field of architecture. So that students can learn from their own and others mistakes by means of exhibitions of the best works of students and teachers themselves.

 

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Discover the design brief here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/elementry/info/about 

Discover the full results here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/elementry/entries

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