HEMSEDAL CENTRAL SCHOOL
Type Invited project competition, 1st prize 2020
Team MDH Architects and Veidekke Construction Company
Role Landscape architects
Client Hemsedal Municipality
Size 18,500 m2
Project start 2020
Status Ongoing
A new central school is to be built in Hemsedal and the ambitions are high. The school will be an extension and renovation of an existing school together with a new schoolyard project involving rainwater management. The extension will be built using massive wood constructions and throughout the project is a focus on flexibility and adaptability to create a long-lasting and sustainable addition to Hemsedal.
The schoolyard provides a framework for everyday life for the children in first to tenth grade and we have designed it as a loosely divided playscape for active games, learning, sport and hangout. The schoolyard is where you play games involving the whole class, you have one-on-one conversations with your best friend, and here you challenge the older children for a football match.
A framework for active games – sport – hangout and learning
The schoolyard is a loosely divided and flexible space, nearest to the buildings are areas specifically programmed for different age groups. The areas further away are common, less programmed and with large sports -, play elements and nature areas with tall grass and trees.
There are no fences between the zones, which not only allow the children to meet, play and form friendships across age group, it’s also a robust and flexible layout that can adapt to changing programs. Near the existing
school is an area for the youngest children from first to fourth grade. It’s filled with elements that encourage to play and can be used in various games, like small hills, trampolines and markings on the pavement. Together they form a playscape that inspires to be used in various ways depending on the children’s imagination. Near the school extension, an area is programmed to fit the needs for the age-group from fifth to tenth grade. Here are a few play elements, urban gardens, an outdoor kitchen and the sloping terrain is utilised as seating steps for hangout our sports exercises.
An addition to the local community
The school and schoolyard is an important local centre, for its pupils and parents but likewise for the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The school is the centre of multiple evening and weekend activities, and the schoolyard is open outside of school hours.
The schoolyard is designed for all-year-around use, many of its elements have double functions for summer and winter, to fully utilize the space and ensure an active and inspiring space throughout the seasons.
