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Yano-minami Elementary School |
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#1 |
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DATA |
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 Design: Atelier ZO
Location: 4-17-1 Yano-Minami, Aki-Ku, Hiroshima City
Purpose of Use: Elementary School
Completed in: Apr 1998
Total Floor Area: 8707sqm
Structure: RC
map (mapion)
map (Google Map) |
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| This elementary school stands in the suburban residential area of Hiroshima
City. It embodies the project called Hiroshima 2045: City of Peace &
Creativity, which commissions renowned architects to build design-oriented
public installations. Atelier ZO was the architect of this school. They
are good at producing architecture reflecting regional characteristics
and natural environment, such as Nago City Hall, Okinawa. They have fully
exerted their design skills for this school. |
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#2 |
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| Point 1. Classroom unit equipped with basic functions. |
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#3: The classroom is on the right of the hall. The schoolyard is on
the left. Sinks and shoe cupboards are seen. |
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Basic Layout of Classroom Unit
1. Classroom
2. Hall
3. Miniature Garden below the Well
4. Wood Deck
5. Cleanup Utensil Box
6. Shoe Cupboard
7. Sink
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Every classroom is made different, but Figure 1 represents the standard layout. All Japanese elementary schools have shoe cupboards due to the custom of changing shoes when you go outside or come inside. It's rare, however, to install the shoe cupboards at each classroom. The space around the hall and wood decks is a buffer zone between inside and outside.
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#4: This well is not only for lighting but also for constant water-dripping
from above. |
#5: The well. Water is constantly dripping. Drainage water from the rice
paddy on the roof? |
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| Point 2. Making the best use of gentle texture of wood |
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#6 |
#7 |
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Japanese schools used to be wooden. Most are now made in RC, excellent
in earthquake resistance, but wooden school buildings feel warm and special.
This school is basically built in RC but what children directly touch such
as interior material, windows, and doors are made of wood. The walls are
subdued in color and will stay decent and become more charming over time.
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#8: Classroom Interior. Desks and chairs are all wooden. |
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| Point 3. Playful gimmicks carefully employed |
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#9: The schoolyard named the Yard of Science. Blue tiles are laid on the
waterway. |
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These installations will surely attract children's interest. |
#10 |
#11 |
#12: The schoolyard named the Yard of Creation. A pond is seen. |
#13: The Yard of Science |
#14: The Yard of Science, detail: The waterwheel cheerfully turns
as rainwater drops in. |
#15 |
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| Point 4. Rooftop garden |
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| On the rooftop are rice paddies (#17) and gardens (#18). |
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| This school building complex is certainly unique in design but does not
intend to revolutionize school system itself; thus students and teachers
will not feel puzzled at how to use their school. From that point of view,
this complex has achieved an exquisite balance between unique design and
practical use. It seems to best comply with the concept of the Peace and
Creativity project and be the most successful of all the works built under
the same project so far. |
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[For Visitors]
I visited the school when it was off and asked for admittance to see the
school buildings from architectural interest. They kindly let me in. It's
not certain if you are allowed to visit inside at present because Japanese
elementary schools have been security sensitive recently.
[Access]
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[TRAIN & BUS] Take the JR Kure Line and get off at Yano Station, then take a bus to Yano New Town Naka. Go up the slope for a while then the school will be in sight. |
 hiroshima tips / Transportation |
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Created on Dec 20, 2008 Last updated on Dec 20, 2008 Written by makoto Photos taken by makoto Camera: Canon PowerShot G3 |
| Photos on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons License. You are free to copy and make commercial use of them under the conditions
"Attribution" and "No Derivative Works". [about copyright] |
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| (CC) arch-hiroshima 2006 |
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