‘my archischool’ students aged 6-18 explore architectural sustainability

students aged 6-18 show their immense architectural creativity 

imagination sees no limits and my archischool makes sure to encourage and elevate it. geared towards children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18, the hong kong-based education institute provides an introduction to architectural education and digital design for anyone seeking knowledge an skills for future career aspirations. through in-person and online courses, these young talents have the opportunity to develop 3D modelling skills, both in architecture and urban planning. from fish-farming to astronomy towers, 13 student projects explore and showcase the urge to fight towards sustainability. 

program packages include portfolio making and an exhibition 

the various stages of tuition at my archischool start at beginner level, and progress to cover a range of tools, interfaces, and outputs. one-off classes allow students to get a taste of the available courses and teaching styles. a variety of program packages are offered to those wishing to develop a wide range of skills over several sessions. these include writing and portfolio development, while the most comprehensive package concludes with an exhibition of student work after eight months of study. one of the digital tools taught through the program is the 3DEXPERIENCE platform developed by ‘dassault systèmes‘, which allows students to build in and manipulate 3D digital models of cities like hong kong and paris.

antonia designs an astronomy tower with a data research laboratory sitting on top of a mountain. with a main observation area and digital mapping facilities on the lower floor, scientists get to go up the curved staircase to explore. the roof is imagined in laminated wood cantilevered structures that opens upwards just like petals. the dynamic form of the building is articulated to symbolize the non-stop curiosity and eagerness of people with respect to the cosmos.

alice models her green home project as a hideaway from the city by hiding the façade and roof under the greenery. once the users open the entrance door, a breathtaking view of the sea embraces the building. the aim is to show how the environment can influence the spiritual realm of people who tend to get ‘lost’ in city life. with clay and raw timber, the structure with the full height glass wall allows ample amount of natural light.

queenie’s dream holiday house brings animals and people together. projected as a boathouse, the project travels around the world bringing children to different places, in order to learn about the species and habitats of the water and land. right under a majestic waterfall, the cozy house encourages the owners and visitors to re-connect with nature. 

for her underwater quarantine center, annecy was inspired by the loneliness that has aroused from the COVID-19 pandemic. with a top level entrance, the privacy of the different units in the cylindrical tower is balancing out the communal service spaces around them. 

inter-penetrating spaces vs boundaries is the project concept for oscar’s teahouse. set in the countryside, the student aims to articulate the habitats of different species by interweaving the boundaries between nature and people. with co-living and togetherness in mind, birds and fish interact around the man-made reinforced timber structure. 

heidi gives customers fresh fish right out of the water with her self-sustainable floating restaurant with the conical shapes being open at the top to allow the cooking smells to escape. in order to enhance co-living with nature, the fish farms are arranged along the entrance pathway, inviting guests in.

the impressive paper model above by armelle represents her idea of an astronomy tower, comprised of a semi-open observation deck and a small research laboratory to facilitate the data collection for study and research of space science. referencing sailing, the curved façade hides inside a visitors’ lobby as well that serves as an educational facility to the public. 

the elephant resort is paired with a green restaurant in alanna’s concept. to encourage sustainable farming, the garden allows people to harvest their own home-grown vegetables and fruits. the main dinning area is inside an elongated vault to allow natural sunlight throughout the day whist sufficient shading is be provided by the rib-like structure. the challenge of implementing the drainage for the animals is solved with a large man-made river subdividing the back of the house from the natural habitat. 

student so ho was always amazed by the dynamic beauty of tensile structures with long spans and out comes his school campus. comprising of an art department, an engineering department, and a library,  the building unifies the 3 separate blocks with interweaving steel members, creating a central open communal plaza. the passageway is well covered and naturally ventilated. 

abigal wishes that the school becomes completely accessible by an entire society as the student believes that education should be more inclusive. right on the waterfront area, the classroom arrangement provides a satisfying acoustic insulation, while  each room is facing outwards. without any corridors, the exoskeleton design was inspired by campsite tents. 

‘how can we provide more options of green design?’ asks student minjoon. the resort equipped with its own renewable energy setup takes advantage of the site conditions of victoria harbor in hong kong. using solar panels and windmills, the student here demonstrates their dream for a cleaner environment. 

everyone could use a little break from the city rhythm. angus came up with a city retreat teahouse, inspired by the woodlands of his mother’s homeland. the timber facades allow different shading effects throughout the day, while offering privacy and intimacy to the visitors. 

to embrace the friendship and companionship of dogs to people, arlene proposes a playground in the city. using the long-spanned steel structure for the covered portion, the ground floor becomes spacious for people and their pets to exercises together.