How do you encourage children to play outside in a climate where it rains on average every third day? The answer lies in viewing water as a resource and designing a school that thrives in rainy weather!
We were tasked with this challenge following an architectural competition organised by the City of Gothenburg. The building's relatively small scale, its focus on the theme of water's path, and its thoughtfully designed outdoor environment were particularly emphasised. By centring the design around rain and adopting a creative approach, the City of Gothenburg and LINK Arkitektur have demonstrated how water can become a valuable resource that enriches experiences and enhances learning. Torslanda School stands as an exciting meeting place for both students and the local community.
Efficient Use of the Site
In collaboration with architects, landscape architects, and interior designers from our offices in Norway and Sweden, we have developed a 9,000-square-meter school capable of safely accommodating 600 students in grades F-6, along with an adapted primary school. The school’s design maximises site efficiency while creating a secure inner courtyard that brings together essential social functions, such as leisure areas, group rooms, and a dining hall. Classrooms are oriented to provide views of the outdoor environment and the surrounding landscape. Functionality is prioritised by minimising corridors and promoting movement through open spaces, ensuring that both students and adults feel safe and visible. A variety of spaces, rooms, and nooks allow for diverse activities, catering to individual needs.
The Best School in the World When It Rains
From the moment the first raindrop lands on the roof, rainwater flows like a blue thread through the grounds, connecting the schoolyard zones in a playful cycle before it is absorbed into the wetland. This safe, engaging, and educational school environment emphasises the natural water cycle, highlighting its power and significance. By making water a central element of the school experience, the design aims to enhance knowledge about climate change and water management. The project, guided by the goal of educating children about these critical issues, uses playful learning to explore heavy rain, flooding, and infiltration. The school's distinct identity provides both students and residents with a landmark to take pride in.
LINK Arkitektur has been the lead architect from the initial competition phase through to the controlled request for proposals for the turnkey contract, overseeing architecture and landscape design, permanent furnishings, program development, and feasibility studies. The turnkey contractor was Viedekke, with Tengbom serving as the architect for construction documentation.
