link arkitektur: vagen highschool

link arkitektur: vagen high schoolexterior facade image © hundven-clements photography 

conveniently located in the centre of sandnes, norway, the ‘vagen highschool’ has room for 800 students, catering to a variety of academic subjects within media and communication, drawing and design, arts and crafts, music, dance, and drama. the building by oslo-based link arkitektur covers an area of 22.500 sqm, which includes a sports hall, a lecture theater with 380 seats, miscellaneous audition rooms, and rooms equipped for gymnastics.

the project exhibits a tight simplicity that reflects on the corresponding rationale of informing the internal configurations. at the same time, individual building sections showcase a dynamic attitude toward the campus; ‘the cocoon’, in the atrium, is one such element. with its stooping and leaning extensions spreading over four levels, it stitches itself through the ceiling and leans over onto the western facing street.

exterior facade image © hundven-clements photography

on the final floor, a continuous glass façade with alternating 170 meter long colored-glass panels becomes a plinth for the school’s logo. characterized by a refined use of materials, the campus ‘cocoon’ is clad with larch, both on the exterior and on the interior. heavier, inner planes are dressed with travertine stone, while the canteen areas and foyers integrate a glazed façade towards the south and towards the river promenade. the masterplan is concentrated on a large central common area, which is apparent on all of the school’s levels, connecting open staircases and elevators. emphasis has been placed on providing universal access throughout the entire campus, locating classrooms and group rooms throughout the site.

canteenimage © hundven-clements photography

auditorium image © hundven-clements photography

auditoriumimage © hundven-clements photography

foyerimage © hundven-clements photography

foyer image © hundven-clements photography

foyer image © hundven-clements photography

multi-purpose roomimage © hundven-clements photography

gymnasium image © hundven-clements photography

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