Hong Kong's seven million residents and bustling urban city is filled with looming concrete buildings and dense streets. However, the new campus of the French International School shines amongst the congested cityscape. 

Finding green space is difficult in such an urban environment like Hong Kong. Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen has taken the 215,278 square foot space and creates a visually captivating school which is designed to foster a rich academic environment while featuring cost-effective sustainable designs.

The entrancingly designed facade functions both as a charming and inviting exterior while allowing for the building to adapt to natural daylight. The clever use of sunlight was another feature designers of the building spent much time on. Classrooms were positioned facing north or south allowing for sunlight to enter in a generous and balanced way. The specific orientation of windows helped avoid harsh rays entering from the east and west towards latter parts of the day. 

Focusing on decreasing energy consumption while promoting passive heating and cooling practices, the building's structural layout allows for ample ventilation through out the year. The sound volume and acoustic integrity of the space was another design feature that eliminates unwanted noise pollution within school grounds and classrooms.

Each open-plan villa located on the school contains five classrooms which surround the large outdoor community space. The landscape features of the campus are comprised of an accessible green roof, a native garden filled with 24 large trees and 42 indigenous trees growing onsite. Showcasing examples of sustainability and playful whimsy, the school creates a warm and healthy environment for students and staff to flourish in.