AIKO Educational

Text description provided by the architects. Aiko Education Institution is an integrated middle school and high school preparatory school run by the Catholic Order of Preachers. The school's founding philosophy, We Believe, includes encouraging each student to become an "internationally educated person" and an "emissary of love and light". The school has produced many alumni who are active in a wide range of endeavors around the world. Based on the understanding of the school spirit, we have worked to achieve an “attractive school that increases school pride and school spirit” “architecture coexisting with natural lighting” and “a learning environment surrounded by rich greenery”.

The area is surrounded by mountains with an abundance of greenery, and the location closest to the mountains was chosen as the location for the new school building. A ring floor plan was chosen to allow the largest possible exposure of green space from the greatest number of classrooms. Central courtyards rich in greenery have also been placed within the ring, creating a learning environment surrounded by light and greenery both inside and out. Within this rich environment, a school building was constructed that would appeal to both students and faculty.

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Individual functions have been housed in separate buildings to create spaces to suit each purpose. The school village with the separate buildings consists of the middle and high school classrooms located around the ring, the school administration pavilion, designed to resemble a conical gate, used as the entrance to the school, and a glass pavilion for the teacher. A room in the middle provides a view of the entire campus.

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The School House's separate suites for each academic year are designed to have a high degree of independence. Each School House is equipped with innovative classrooms, restrooms and lounge that can be used for different purposes.

The facades of the built form are solid, homogeneous, and strong that reduce the noise of the surrounding industries as well as the glare of the sun. Ornate triangular openings in the facades allow sunlight to penetrate inside with more mysticism that makes the whole place more spiritual and sublime. This triangular pattern is a repeat of the traditional façade in detail in a simpler but significant form.

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The central courtyards encourage exchange between students in different years of study and are places for refreshment where students can spend their breaks enjoying to their hearts' content, whether by running or lying on the grass gazing up at the sky. The glass-walled dots that mark the intersections between the corridors provide access to natural light and green spaces to refresh students as they move between classrooms. The resulting building is a place of learning integrated with nature and bursting with authenticity.