Denmark School underlines of role of architecture in stimulating growth

Compiled by Team IAnD

Photography: Torben Eskerod; courtesy JJW Architects

Read Time: 3 mins

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South Harbour School, Denmark wins WAN Education Award 2016, shortlisted from six high calibre projects that showcased a remarkable and diverse range of the best in international educational design…


Designed by JJW Architects, one of Denmark’s largest architectural firms, the project is also part of the Danish contribution to The 15th International Architecture Biennial in Venice that opened on 28th of May, 2016.

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Located in Copenhagen, Denmark where the population is currently growing at a fast pace of over 1,000 new citizens a month, the city needed to look at increasing its school facilities. South Harbour School is a new public school with a maritime and public profile. In due time the public will also gain access to classrooms dedicated to specific subjects such as music and cooking classes.

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Based on the premise that schools are both, places for learning process and for social exchange, surprises and new experiences are central concepts to the project. On each floor, plans change and heights of rooms vary. High-ceiling open rooms are combined with more intimate, low-ceiling spaces; complemented by a variety of horizontal and vertical connections and spaces.

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The idea behind this design is to ensure students, teachers and visitors are surprised, challenged and stimulated as they move around indoors and outdoors. The dualities of activity/rest, light/dark, warm/chilly are all part of the concept.  

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The project has been judged by the best in the field - Simon Allford Director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Sarah Ball Principal at Woods Bagot, Maria Nesdale, Education & Culture Practice Area Leader, Senior Associate at Gensler, Keith Papa Architect Director at Building Design Partnership (BDP) and Keith Lilley Director of Estates & Facilities Management at Sheffield University. The jury members were unanimously impressed by the use of space.

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The 9.500 sq.m. school has been voted as “By far the best of the highly articulated schemes, this project engages the landscape and the building in making a new place, in a new piece of city.” Other juror remarks have commended the project as “completely contextual and it has its own identity” “really rigorous and intelligent plan”, “really clever and wonderful piece of architecture” and “it’s playful, it’s happy”!