Recently, LYCS Architecture unveiled its design for the "Green Terraces," an Innovation Center for Hailiang Education. It is located southwest of the Hailiang Education Park in Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province. Hailiang Education is an educational service brand owned by Hailiang Group, a Fortune 500 company. The planned total construction area of the Hailiang Education Innovation Center is 11,500 square meters. In the future, it will support diverse functions such as competition training, scientific and creative experiments, and teacher training.
To preserve the site's natural attributes amidst development, the design forsakes the creation of a striking landmark building in favor of a more modest approach. The large building mass is modularly deconstructed, allowing it to sprawl humbly atop the green hills, rising in layers that conform to the original terrain. This design integrates with the surrounding academic buildings and the natural mountain landscape. The building facade utilizes materials with stone and wood elements, simulating the rocks and trees found in the natural mountainous environment, significantly reducing the visual presence of the building mass. The tree pits that grow from the ground to the terrace at the building's corners serve as an additional enhancement to the green attributes of the experiment building. The shaded glass curtain walls beneath the tree canopy unreservedly bring natural light and green shadows into the building, blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Walking through it feels like strolling through a forest, with every view enveloped in greenery.
Considering the complex usage scenarios the building will face in the future, the design team opted to abandon the traditional linear layout typical of educational buildings. Instead, they segmented the large building mass into dispersed elements, creating three relatively independent yet interconnected courtyard combinations. The architectural modules are categorized and integrated according to different usage scenarios, forming courtyards of varying scales through a staggered stacking arrangement. The architectural layout, terraced according to the terrain, creates extensive terraces and eaves space, adding greater flexibility to the building's use. Indoor activities such as teaching, training, and forums can extend beyond the classroom. The site's original "secret garden" attribute is also preserved in a new form for the children. Here, they can engage in discussions, play games, participate in sports, and socialize, freely choosing their preferred leisure activities. This integration of flexible spaces and natural elements enhances the educational environment, fostering a vibrant, interactive setting that supports a variety of learning and recreational activities.
The intimate scale of the inner courtyards provides a safe and comfortable space for children's activities and exponentially increases the interface between the building and nature. This design significantly enhances natural lighting and ventilation throughout the interior, leading to energy savings and improved space utilization quality. The strategic integration of these elements creates an environment that harmoniously blends functionality with the well-being of its users. The multidirectional connections enhance both the practicality and aesthetics of the circulation spaces. Extensive stairs and steps link buildings and floors, facilitating easy movement while creating scenic spots at various corners. This adds an element of interest to the children's journeys, subtly encouraging and guiding them to reduce prolonged sitting or frequent elevator use and to increase walking. This design satisfies functional requirements and promotes healthier, more engaging ways for children to navigate their learning environment.
