Klébergsskóli

Narratives

Architect Narrative

Klébergsskóli is a 200 students´ elementary school located on the northern outskirts of Reykjavik, Iceland. It is close to the coast of the Atlantic ocean, under the southern slopes of Mt. Esja, in what used to be a former rural village. Excisting on the site, is a school built in 1924, with an independant extension built in 1974. The new project consists of a new extension that connects the two older buildings, creating an intergrated learning environment. Total renovation of the existing buildings is a part of the project. The new extension houses admininistration, specialised classrooms, dining-commons, auditorium, and home-rooms for 7th-10th grade. The school from 1924 vill be converted into a library/media center, and the building from 1974 will house classrooms for 1st-6th grade.

Planning Principles:
1. Enhance Learning
The climate is harsh in the school area and the eastern wind is the most frequent and can be very powerful at times. The actual extension itself, which connects the two existing buildings, was designed in close collaboration with the landscape arhitect, achieving an intergration between landscape and building. The buildings and the landscaping form a barrier for the wind for the outdoor areas, thus making the most of the breathtaking view, and the close contact to the nature of the shore. Therefore the complex and its surroundings form a teaching tool in observing and learning about the environment and our interplay with the forces of nature. The interior of the new extension is light and open to the outside through big glass areals. Exposed concrete structural system and natural material, wood, linoleum flooring, ect., contrasting, make the extensions expression and its interaction with the old school building easily used too demonstrate and observe the use of form, color and material in past and present.

2. Community Center
The site has been integrated into Reykjavik´s municipality. The school is designed to be an information- and learning center for the whole community. The communal library will be a part of the school library, and open to the public both during school hours and after school activities in the afternoon. The public areas of the school, auditorium and specialized classrooms, such as woodwork, artroom etc. are designed so they can be closed off from the rest of the school, and opened to the public to accomodate afterschool- and weekend programs.

3. Involve Stakeholders
At the early stages of the design process, a task force of teachers, parents and community representatives met with the architects for six months ongoing discussions of the school´s need and plans for the future. These discussions gave a firm ground on which to base the school design. The project continued through traditional project development with regular meetings with the building committee and staff representatives.

4. Health and Security
The Administration offices and teachers´ resource areas were relocated to maximize visibility of major outdoor areas. The superintendants´ office has view over the main entrance. 1st-6th grade, and 7th-10th grade, have their separate home-rooms on opposite sides of the commons, to minimise friction. Stairs and corridors are wide, easy to monitor and filled with natural light to create a comfortable, pleasing atmosphere. Classrooms are bright with natural light, fresh air ventilation, and separate fire escapes.

5. Resource Development
By preserving the old historical school-building, and adapting it to a library/media center for the school and its´community, and adapting the extension from 1972 to up to date school needs, full advantage was taken of the existing resourses. The building’s exterior was designed to harmonize with and enhance historic character of the old school building , while at the same time expressing modern character. The interior was planned as an open, colorful, educational facility with plenty of natural light and ventilation in every space. Sited at the coast, at the foot of the mountain, the site not only provides a beautiful setting, but also permits direct access to nature and existing sports´ facilities. The design was developed to take advantage of economical materials to produce an interesting and visually interactive environment while still respecting the budgets´ constraints of the project.

6. Adaptable to Change
The 6th-10th grade classrooms in the extension building, are virtually one open space, that can be divided in various ways by sliding walls, for multipurposal uses, work groups, collaborative learning,home bases ect. There are several multi-purpose classrooms included in the program to address future educational needs of the school. The Auditorium/dining commons can be expanded by sliding and folding partition walls to enable the entrance space to become an additional sitting area, when needed. The music room can be connected to the auditorium by a sliding wall. Connecting doors are placed between classrooms in the new extension to encourage team work.