Pine Campus is a new school for a specialised Physics and Mathematics programme, set within a mature pine forest in a northern climate. The 19,000 m² scheme accommodates around 620 students and forms part of a wider university development.
The existing forest is the primary driver of the project, its structure informing both the layout of the buildings and the character of the architecture. The masterplan places a series of low-rise volumes between the trees: an academic building, a recreational building with sports and assembly facilities, and student accommodation currently under construction. The completed buildings are connected by a heated underground passage, maintaining continuity through the winter months.
The academic building is composed of two interlocking volumes of differing heights, slightly rotated relative to one another. This rotation defines a sequence of sheltered courtyards and establishes a clear sense of orientation across the campus.
Teaching spaces include general classrooms, ICT and language suites, and specialised laboratories for the natural sciences and engineering. Shared facilities - a double-height sports hall and a library overlooking one of the courtyards - complete the programme. The range of spaces supports both focused individual work and collaborative formats. Interior layouts and furniture systems, developed in collaboration with EdDesign, are conceived as adaptable frameworks rather than fixed arrangements.
The architectural language is deliberately restrained. Light-toned metal façades sit above a darker base, with deep window reveals that provide depth and solar control. Openings follow a measured rhythm, calibrated to balance daylight, views and environmental performance across the elevations.
Internally, the buildings are organised around legibility and natural light. Circulation is direct and clearly defined, while teaching spaces are arranged to support interaction without sacrificing focus.
The landscape strategy is straightforward: retain the pine forest. Pedestrian routes follow existing clearings, linking courtyards, terraces and informal outdoor areas. The buildings remain quiet in tone - muted materials and low profiles - allowing the vertical rhythm of the trees to remain the dominant feature of the site.
