Whimsical school design blends nature with learning

Recess takes on a whole new meaning in this school outside of London. Studio Weave designed a whimsical timber structure for the Belvue School, a middle school for children with special education needs.

The structure, which is intended to host extracurricular activities, features large sliding doors and windows that open directly onto nature. Smaller storybook windows with colorful panes dot the upper levels of the school, giving it a castle-like feel.

The architects tell Dezeen: “We identified that the boundary between the playground and woods marks the border between familiar school territory and the magical, mysterious world beyond. At this very important threshold the woodland rooms act as a ‘gatehouse’, and symbolize the entrance to another world/secret garden.”

Inside, the space has tent-like timber ceilings that give the school a warm, glowing atmosphere. Each of the three rooms has a different function—one for indoor/outdoor projects, one for reading and more focused teaching, and a third for the kitchen.

Via: Dezeen