White Arkitekter

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

CREATIVITY WITHIN CLEAR FRAMES

White arkitekter

CATEGORY
School

PROJECT YEAR
2014

ARCHITECTS
White Arkitekter

LOCATION
Oslo, Norway

AREA
7200.0 sqm

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ivan Brodey

BUILDING CONTRACTOR
Betonmast AS

LANDSCAPE
White

STRUCURAL ENGINEERS
Norconsult AS

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

Text description provided by architect.

In an old industrial town, Strømmen, some 20 kilometres from Oslo in Norway, White arkitekter has completed a new secondary school, Bråtejordet Skole. It is the first development in a new residential area. The school provides an innovative learning environment within a traditional education framework.

White won the project through a design competition competing against 28 local Norwegian practices. The winning scheme “Rammer og nivåer” (frames and levels) was highly commended for its holistic approach.

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

The proposal is founded on clear structures, where spatial thresholds serve as natural boundaries, between school and community as well as between different parts of the school. This creates a calm and secure educational learning environment – entirely in line with the desires of the school leadership – which allows students to focus in their study.

The transition from the town to the classroom takes place via four distinct spaces: Tunet (the yard), Platået (the plateau), Boksen (the box) and Rommet (the room).

Tunet is the changeover zone, where you leave the surrounding community and enter the active schoolyard. It is lined with trees providing a clear demarcation and is divided into fields that allude to the surrounding agricultural landscape, with a social area incorporating picnic benches and a stepped seating stage in the area sheltered by the L-shaped plan of the building.

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

The next level, Platået, is the school’s entrance concourse, which is raised on a plinth 1m above the street. Large glazed wall sections provide views out across the surrounding landscape and the expansive high ceilings are animated with a pattern of roof lights which flood the room with daylight.

Design workshops, music studios, a library and administration are organised around this central room, creating a dynamic space that functions as foyer, canteen and assembly hall.

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

The upper level, Boksen, is divided into zones for each year group, incorporating dedicated teachers' offices and break areas as well as separate staircases leading to the circulation areas on the ground floor. In Boksen, the views are framed and the learning environments are less open than on the entrance floor, creating a more focused environment for study.

Finally, Rommet is the homeroom. Each one forms the nexus of a unit incorporating an adjacent breakout space, toilet and student lockers. All classrooms face the cooler points of the compass, away from the schoolyard, in order to optimize the conditions for concentrated teaching.

The building has an L-shaped plan which encloses the south facing yard. It is characterised by the zigzagging form of its roof which creates a strong saw tooth silhouette referencing Strømmen’s industrial history, whilst also forming very spacious interiors with very high ceilings.

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey

Our client, Skedsmo municipality, wanted a school for the future with a 100-year viability in terms of functionality, educational environments and long-term sustainability.

The combination of spatial planning, material choices and energy strategies has resulted in an predicted annual energy use of 79 kWh/m2, equivalent to Norwegian Energy Class A.

High quality hard-wearing materials are specified throughout. The load bearing partition walls are made of cast concrete. Expansive floor to ceiling glazing combined with a light terrazzo floor creates a light and bright interior, which merges with the pale concrete of the yard creating a seamless transition from outside in. The school’s folded roof is covered in verdant Sedum to reduce rainwater run-off, and punctured with skylights to bring in natural light. The dark exterior consists of corrugated, pre-patinated copper, a living material which ages beautifully. The reflections of morning light in the copper greet students and teachers each morning.

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
© Ivan Brodey


Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
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Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
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Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
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Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
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Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation


Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation

Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Elevation


Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Floor Plan
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Floor Plan
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Floor Plan
Creativity within Clear Frames- Raman
Site Plan

White Arkitekter
T +46 31 608600
White Arkitekter
Magasinsgatan 10, 403 17 Göteborg, Sweden