2020 AIA Los Angeles (AIA/Next LA) Citation Award
“A simple, humble and humanistic project. But also an important
project, as a case study for how good architecture can
become great simply by demonstrating that it is nothing more
nor less than it needs to be. This is a competent proposal that
is unabashedly humanist and critically regionalist in terms of its
Kahnian approach to exported modernism.” ~Jury Comments
With an emphasis on the smooth social integration of children through the learning process, we designed an open school that adapts flexibly to students’ needs and evolving curricula. We selected large tables for the classrooms so children can work in groups, learn to cooperate, and accept each other’s diversity.
All interior spaces open toward the central courtyard and smaller perimeter areas. This arrangement keeps children in close contact with the natural environment while allowing safe supervision. The outdoor courtyards vary in scale, giving each child a comfortable and protected corner.
Sustainability guided both material choices and the overall design of the school complex. The construction uses natural, local materials, including concrete floors, rammed earth walls, and wooden panels, along with a predominantly pine‑wood roof structure. The construction method remains simple and conventional, allowing execution without heavy machinery, even manually. The school operates autonomously in terms of water and electricity. The design responds carefully to the site’s slope by incorporating ramps that minimize intervention in the natural terrain and ensure smooth movement for children with mobility challenges throughout the complex.
