Ping Sha Xin Cheng School

Ping Sha Xin Cheng School

The educational physical environment has been carefully crafted to provide a holistic learning approach by addressing different spheres in the educational growth of a student: the cognitive (MIND), the physical (BODY) and the metaphysical (SOUL). The design of the new Ping sha School takes into consideration these areas of the human condition translating them into three programmatic domains for learning: Academic Learning, Eco Learning and Social Learning. The traditional learning domain has been evolving for some time. Although the classrooms are still at the core of the educational environment design (Academic Learning), additional special and educational offerings need to be introduced. We believe it is crucial that Social Learning and Eco Learning are weaved into the programmatic fabric of an educational facility.

Social Learning is a critically important sphere of the student’s educational growth. Over the last few years, it’s relevance has been fueled by factors such as the development of new technologies which have produced a culture based on sharing, collaboration and the general free interchange of ideas and knowledge. To that end, program needs to be allocated to aimed at fostering the interchange of ideas and culture. These spaces, which promote what we describe as Social Fabric or Social Infrastructure, are spaces in which different activities can take place. Informal meetings to exchange knowledge, open lectures, music concerts, study groups, art exhibitions, science fair exhibits, poetry reading etc… The Ping sha school design has at its core an ample bridge feature that, connecting all the different atria in the school also serves as the Social Learning space

The third sphere of learning is Eco Learning. Eco Learning is that domain of the education experience which connects the student to nature and the outside world allowing him/her to enjoy and explore physical activity, natural light, trees and vegetation, etc… The new Ping sha School embraces this idea through the design of a continuous ground floor which unites the sport program with other exterior activities. The ground floor continues vertically into vegetation filled patios or atria providing a unified spatial exterior experience.