The new Herningsholm Vocational School assertsitself as an independentbuildinginan existing campus cluster of educational buildings. The school is designedinside-out-with a focus onthe creationof optimal learning and study environments-as well asoutside-in,in relation tothesurrounding contextwherewelcomingurban spacesprovide possibilitiesforoutdoor workand teaching.
The buildingtakesinto account thatourbehavior and thinkingis shaped bythe physical environmentwe are in.The form of the learning environment– the architecture–has a significant impact on the student’s daily learning processes, and is therefore designed for modernand democratic principles.
The building isan angularlayout that brings together threebuilding volumesunder asloping roof, which in scaleresponds to the surroundings by dropping fromthree floorsfurthestsouth totwo floorsin the far north. Theangularbuildingcreates threenewoutdoor urban andlearning spaces in conjunction with the neighboring buildings: The Plaza, the studygarden and a front garden.
The Plazabecomesan important destinationthat brings togetherthe surrounding institutionsandusers. The Plazaincorporates greenery in the form of two largecracks in the poured concrete; mergingthe urban scalewiththe human scale. Indry weather, the triangulateddepressionsoffer seating in the green.During rainfall,therecesses act asnaturalinfiltrationandretention basinsto relievethesewers.
To the west,aroundexisting trees,a quiet greengarden spacecalledstudygarden is formed,for learning,reflectionand contemplation; while to the southamoresemi-public space front gardenis established with direct access fromthe classroomson the ground floor.
Anincision into the building volume towards the Plazaproduces adramaticarchitecturalidiomforthe school.The roof overhangformsa coveredoutdoor space,which mediatesthe transition to thelowerbuildingsto the north,andclearly highlights theschool'smain entranceand“shop fronts”on the ground floorwhere the various educationsandtheirwork is made visible.
The learningspacesthat are the building’sbackboneare organized around aunifyingcommonspacethat also serves asa flexiblelearning environment. The learningspaces aregrouped2 and 2so asto createdirect access tothe common space fromalllearning spacesin the school.
The building isdesigned forgeneral use, and the learningspaces aredesignedso thatthe physical environmentsupports and matchesvaried, flexible and contemporarylearningprinciples. Built-inseating/ studynichesin the facadebringsquality to the spaces, andinspires alternative, moreunconventionaluses. Mobilefurnishingscanquicklytransformthe learningspaceforvariousteaching situations.
The common study spaces alsooffersvariedphysical environmentsto work in,fromthedouble-height rooms facing the garden,suitable forworkshop-like uses, to a student caféspace forinformal gatherings of students,to dedicatedstudycorners of quieter and moreintimatecharacter–and each individuallearning space in itself is designed for numeroussetups and spatial uses.
The facades are differentiated by orientation, showcasing how the constructions, sustainable initiativesand installationprinciplesare fully adapted and integrated withthe architectural concept: The glazed facadesfeature integratedniches anddeep revealsthat provide shadingfor thefacadearchitecture,which plays ongravityand easeusing massive pre-fabricated fibre cementfacade panels in combination withtall, bronze-anodizedperforatedaluminumshutterswhich add warmthand variationto thecomposition.
