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This reconstruction project aimed to fulfill the need to modernize a 40-class school within Shanghai’s dense inner-ring area, constrained by a site only one-third the standard size (14,200 sqm vs. 41,400 sqm). Facing spatial limitations and high urban density, the design team proposed relocating the campus to the site’s southeast corner through a land-swap strategy. The concept evolved through a compact, composite spatial approach, elevating the sports field to 20 meters to maximize ground space for large facilities like the gymnasium and auditorium. Three distinct building volumes—teaching, experimental, and sports—were designed as a micro-urban cluster, connected by corridors and outdoor spaces, fostering a vibrant, integrated campus that harmonizes with the city.
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The project redefines the campus-city relationship in a dense urban context, fostering an open, interactive interface. The design prioritizes the dialogue between the campus’s internal spaces and the surrounding city. Transparent corridors and mirrored eaves blur boundaries, while a wedge-shaped plaza links campus and city. The three-building cluster’s varied facades align with the residential scale. A semi-outdoor plaza and accessible ground floor serve as a “city living room,” boosting community engagement. An elevated sports field and rooftop garden tackle spatial limits, forming a visual landmark that ties into Shanghai’s skyline.
Sustainability is integral to the project’s compact design. By elevating the sports field, the design optimizes land use, reducing urban sprawl. The rooftop garden enhances biodiversity and mitigates heat, while natural ventilation and daylight are maximized through open corridors and transparent facades. Modular facades and prefabricated components with dry-connection technology streamline construction, minimizing waste and energy use. The single basement layer controls costs and environmental impact.
The project’s strengths lie in its spatial efficiency and urban integration. By lifting large facilities, it overcomes the site’s limitations, while the single basement layer controls costs. The scheme organizes the teaching building, laboratory building, and sports complex into three distinct volumes, collectively supporting a "floating roof". Designed at a scale akin to typical urban mid-rise buildings, the layout ensures flexibility, with horizontal walkways connecting adjacent blocks. These volumes form a micro-urban cluster that blends seamlessly with the surrounding residential area, reducing the imposing scale of traditional large school structures. The design prioritizes the dialogue between the campus’s internal spaces and the surrounding city. Strolling through corridors and terraces, one is constantly greeted by glimpses of the urban context, allowing the campus to feel immersed in the city’s vibrant fabric. This “floating” rooftop, featuring gardens and activity spaces, offers a multi-layered experience connected by outdoor staircases. Varied facades harmonize with the urban context while asserting a modern identity. The use of prefabricated components and dry-connection technology enhances construction efficiency. The campus encourages student participation in civic life, promoting social responsibility. This project not only meets educational needs but also redefines urban school design that enhances Shanghai’s inner city vitality.
“Innovative, compact, and community-focused, the design brilliantly overcomes spatial constraints, blending education with urban life. The floating rooftop and open interfaces create an inspiring, modern campus that fosters both learning and civic engagement.”
Atelier Archmixing is a pioneering Chinese architectural studio established in Shanghai in 2009. With all partners domestically educated and have practiced in China almost three decades, their flexible design strategies come from deep understanding of Chinese contemporary urban and rural context. Through integrating practice with urban research, spatial experiments and theoretical reflection, Archmixing finds innovation from refreshing the program, reorganizing all resources and applying accurate forms and technologies. Their work and research have been exhibited in London, Venice, Boston, Paris, Shenzhen etc., and featured in AD, ARQ, A+U, AJ, T+A, etc. Awards include Best US Brick Building, Asian Architects Association Golden medal etc.
http://www.archmixing.com/proj...
