Artium

The true value of a school lies in the life and energy that its students bring.

Therefore, the goal of the new school in Brande is to create the future of learning environments, where the development and well-being of children are at the centre, allowing for a flourishing landscape for learning. The school aims to achieve this by creating physical spaces that not only consider pedagogical and organizational visions, but also supports the diverse development and learning preferences of its students. The first step of that process is to acknowledge that children are inherently different and therefore also require different facilities.

The new school has two cohorts per grade for early primary school and middle school, four cohorts per grade for high school, and a department for children with special needs. It also includes a multi-purpose hall, an area for music, an after-school care centre, and a youth club. Additionally, it is connected to various city services such as a public library, citizen services, historical archives, music school, day-care facilities, and health services including dental care and health visitors. The school can accommodate 650 students and is just over 10.000 m².

The school is designed to blend in with the surrounding city park, establishing a thriving and inviting environment for both students and the local community, while also serving as an identity marker of the area. In the heart of the city park, which serves as the green oasis of the city, the new school will seamlessly integrate with the surroundings and with “Brande Hallerne”. This will contribute significantly to the entire area by establishing the school as a hub for education, culture, and sports in Brande.

The aim of the project is to conserve and enhance this green oasis by establishing spaces and frameworks that are available and functional throughout the day and all year around. Therefore, the project consciously works to preserve the existing trees on the site and create attractive green spaces for both school and the community to enjoy.

The school has been designed as a compact, three-story building that seamlessly integrates with “Brande Hallerne” and presents itself as a vibrant structure that opens itself up towards the area. The building structure appears as a harmonious union of the various building sections, which accommodates the three primary sections and the public library. The design of the structure is lively and welcoming, creating both sheltered and attractive outdoor areas adjacent to the individual sections, as well as a 360-degree connection to the surrounding park.

The greenery is brought all the way into the heart of the building as a spacious green courtyard, which seamlessly integrates nature as an integral part of Artium through open glass partitions. On the second floor, the building houses three large rooftop gardens, providing access to outdoor areas for the older students.

The project relates to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, addressing several of them, such as health and well-being, sustainable energy, and quality education. The facade is primarily covered with wood cladding, reducing the CO2 footprint. The school will feature green roofs and rooftop gardens, providing opportunities for rainwater collection. The indoor environment will be conducive to good health, with well-lit rooms, excellent air quality, and acoustics. The energy consumption will be covered by district heating and solar panels.