IISAKU SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION

1st Prize Competition Winner

Our proposal for the new Iisaku Primary School, created in collaboration with landscape architects Maali Rumet-Allese and Gyuri Jakobfi, won first place in the national competition. The design is deeply rooted in local culture, traditions, and the unique natural surroundings of Iisaku, aiming to create a forward-thinking and welcoming educational environment.

Inspired by regional crafts like weaving, embroidery, and wood carving, the building incorporates geometric patterns that symbolise identity, nature, and continuity. The project title, “Look Up,” is a playful call to curiosity and learning—architecturally reflected in diverse spatial experiences that invite discovery both inside and out.

One of the defining features is a wooden panoramic tower that extends from the school and serves both educational and communal purposes. It offers views over the sports grounds, hosts exhibitions, and connects students and townspeople alike—becoming a new symbol for the community.

The architecture reflects contemporary pedagogical values: flexible classrooms, multifunctional open zones, and varied spatial qualities for concentration, creativity, movement, and play. Instead of static corridors, the building centers around a vibrant atrium, forming the heart of school life and connecting seamlessly to the sports hall and outdoor stadium.

Playful interior and exterior zones—reading platforms, green corners, creative labs, and open-air stages—cater to different personalities and learning styles, supporting both collaboration and retreat. Sustainability is integral: the compact form, passive strategies, and strong daylighting principles ensure long-term efficiency and comfort.