IIDLA SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION

IIdla School–Living Forest Learning Environment in Ahtme

The “Living Forest” concept reimagines IIdla School in Ahtme as more than a renovation—it becomes aliving learning landscape whereeducation and nature are deeply intertwined. Like a forest, the schooloffers shelter, diversity, and space to grow, creating an environment where every child can find theirown rhythm and path.The proposal strengthens the district by extending the existing promenade andlinking the campus with Ahtme Central Square. This clear public axis invites movement, meetings, andeveryday community life, making the school an open and active part of the urban fabric.

Architecturally, the existing Soviet-era buildingis transformed into a more human-scale and welcomingplace. By removing the oversized fourth floor and opening the basement level to daylight, the schoolbecomes brighter, clearer, and more accessible. Two green courtyards form the heart of the campus—sheltered outdoor rooms filled with learning terraces, play areas, and lush planting that brings seasonallife into the school day.At the center, a shared meeting space with an amphitheatre and multipurposehall connects all wings into one cohesive whole—the social heart of the school that naturally flows intothe courtyards. Green entrances and planted terraces bring sunlight, fresh air, and views of nature deepinto classrooms and corridors, supporting comfort and wellbeing.

The façade combines warm darktimber with durable perforated metal at ground level, while birdnesting spaces integrated into the architecture encourage biodiversity and daily contact with the naturalworld.