This is a new campus project for an international school with several decades of history in Japan. As the existing building in the city center became cramped, the school decided to search for a new campus site in Yokohama city, which also has good access from Tokyo. The design of the new campus called for an ideal school architecture that could embody the school’s philosophy.

We focused on pursuing designs and spatial layouts that would allow children from various countries to deeply appreciate Japan’s traditional culture. The design of this building’s exterior shape is inspired by the beautiful scenery of “rice terraces,” which is a traditional landscape in Japan. The campus, designed with this rice terrace concept, is well suited as an environment where students’ intellects are nurtured and their rich sensibilities are cultivated.

Furthermore, the unique sectional shape, which gradually stacks from the north to the south of the site, fully complies with the strict shadow regulations of Japan’s building standards. The ascending arrangement from north to south, where green roofed open terraces overlap, reminds the richness of Japanese landscape once used to be like.

Despite being sited in urban area, it creates a place where one can spend time giving consideration to environmental conservation and experiencing the abundance of nature. In the interior planning, we secured a large skylight and an open atrium space which spans across the center of the elongated building shape.

This created a beautifully well-lit environment in the building. We used glass partitions for classrooms to make the space open and inviting, aiming to foster various discoveries and interactions among students.

Category:Green ArchitectureYear:2024Location: Kanagawa, JapanArchitects:Nobuaki Miyashita, MR STUDIO Co., Ltd.Client:Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL)Images:Courtesy of the Architects