The impetus for this project was the renovation and expansion of a 1972's state secondary school. Shrubs and bushes planted around the building in the 1970's had fully matured and formed a thicket of poor light conditions, uncertainty and disorientation over time. The idea of 'sun lighten meadows' is a response to this specific contextual situation. The delicate play of light, flowers and insects turn meadows into remarkable spatial experiences. They are enjoyable places for tactile experiential learning which place the highest priority on children and nature. A phased implementation over a period of four years was carried out without disturbing normal school routine.
The range of 'fun_ctional' needs like soccer, emergency access, rainwater infiltration and day dreaming framed the building. In response to these demands, five archetypical themes were created and formed the core of the design: 'sun lighten meadows', school squares, 'fun_ctional fields', tree gardens and a distinctive axis.
Main design principles were low maintenance, robustness of materials, universal accessibility, and the focus on few but precisely designed details. The school and the environment emerged strengthened from their 'midlife crisis'. Meadows, paths, fields, tree gardens, and beautiful views are an invitation for active learning and playing.
