'None of the buildings seemed built to impose and in all of them one had the sense that what mattered about a room was the spirit and determination with which it was filled, and the uses to which ingenuity could put it. When I want to remember what a first-class education felt like, that is the architecture I remember, and it mattered solely because of what people did with it.' — The Guardian
It seems that no matter how many years have passed, those schoolyard memories — whether cheerful or hellish — will always be buried in the back of our minds. In light of the 2015 Stirling Prize recently awarded to the Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London, some of The Guardian's writers share how the architecture of their educational stomping grounds as youngsters impacted them.
Do you relate to any of their stories? Which school campus from your own experiences left the strongest impression?
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For me it did, but I grew up in Columbus, IN where every school (since 1953) was designed by a famous architect. I didn't get to experience the typical school building experience until college.
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For me it did, but I grew up in Columbus, IN where every school (since 1953) was designed by a famous architect. I didn't get to experience the typical school building experience until college.
Dept of Architecture, BUET at Dhaka by prof R. Vrooman. It was such a powerful building that had huge impact on every students studied there.
I'm not sure I can identify a specific influence, but I certainly remember some of the differences. The elementary and junior high schools I went to were products of early 1970's with only the most minimal windows or other sources of natural light. My high school was a mix of buildings from the 60's and 80's. Every classroom had views to the outside & some form of greenery, even if it was only a small courtyard. I can't tell you where I learned more, but I did like having the light and views. Dudley Hall at Auburn was pretty much a disaster by the late 90's when I was there. Architect, heal thyself seems to be a theme with school of architecture buildings, though.
My elementary, junior high, and high school buildings were designed in the late 50's and could have been designed by alvar aalto - low rectangular buildings with lots of glass. They were designed by SOM. The buildings at my state college were mostly collegiate gothic and quite beautiful, especially the one with the bell tower that rang the hour. The high school has since been torn down and replaced with a deconstructionist horror in the same footprint. The main collegiate gothic university building (originally built in 1921) has been repaired and upgraded and is as beautiful as ever. Go figure.
I had a funny/odd situation after graduating from my M.Arch - I scored a wonderful job at a very well-known firm in my hometown, and on showing up for the first day noticed an archi-photo in their lobby depicting the elementary school I attended growing up. Turns out it was one of the firm's first projects almost 30 years prior. Delicately tried to bring this up without flagrantly dating my boss ...
Remember people - the elementary school you design might very well end up being where your future hires learn their ABC's !
I grew up in Arizona, so my school was low, sprawling buildings with wide shady roof overhangs and NO interior corridors. We walked outside to go from class to class. My husband - who grew up in northern Michigan - could not believe this when I told him our lockers were outdoors.
So yes, I'd say the passive solar and vernacular properties of my school influenced me. I still believe in them as good practice.
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