Two autonomous educational institutions, the British and German schools in Seoul require a new 8,460.50 square meter building complex with shared facilities on a mountain-side near the city center. This design is inspired by the key project requirements in which complete autonomy of each school system is to be achieved, while auxiliary spaces such as a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a football field, auditorium and cafeteria are shared.
The proposed solution provides a dramatic volume of “shared facilities” in one mass, strategically located at the front of site for the efficient public access and the easy accommodation of student circulation. From this building “backbone”, classrooms of each school branch out and connect by bridges at various levels, establishing building masses around separate outdoor plazas. The ample use of glass wall systems, marry indoor and outdoor spaces and provide daylight. Below grade parking for 189 cars is accessed through plazas and the sunken gardens, minimizing the facilities footprint on the naturally beautiful site.