Shaped by location and purpose
The school's special focus enable pupils to relate theoretical teaching with physical, sensory and experience-based learning. This type of learning has given shape to New Islands Brygge School.
- We have created an environment where both the setting and the teaching are centred around the oldest pupils. Teachers with special expertise are in charge of teaching, which takes place in project rooms rather than the traditional classroom. This challenges the children and gives them more responsibility. At the same time, it has also been important not to create a "mini-gymnasium". There must also be room for play and creativity, because it is still a school for children - just the bigger ones. I think the pupils have really welcomed the new school," says Head of School Aase Hammer.
The building takes its triangular shape from the adjacent city, port and commons, which each serve as inspiration for the choice of materials and colours.
Since food is a key element of the school's identity, the dining hall is the central room. The double-high-ceilinged dining hall is not just the canteen, but also the hub which interconnects all of the school's functions. This makes the dining hall the gathering point where pupils can meet across the school's many activities.
Since movement is another focus area for the school, it is important that the school's architecture stimulates physical activity and play. This is achieved in particular through the building's dynamic spiraling design which, with a staircase motif, issues an invitation up to the school's active rooftop area. The roof landscape gives access to several of the school's functions, so that pupils can take a fun and active short cut across the roof.
The top part of the roof is the sports area, with ample opportunity for physical activity on the running track, in the parkour area, or in the enclosed ball pitch.
