Hanoi, Vietnam
In its design for the campus of The Dewey Schools, 1+1>2 Architects, along with DPLUS Vietnam landscape architects, has created a play of volumes and voids that harmonizes a wide range of functions, climatic considerations, and flow of movement.
The Dewey School is a complex for inter-level education from preschool to high school, including personal development facilities, such as a performance center and swimming school.
Its architectural features manifest a modern and generous ambiance, standing as a landmark in the wider land area.
For its complexity and ingenuity, the Dewey School has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The complex consists of three main functional zones: the classrooms, whose openings are positioned primarily along the North-South axis; the common area (including canteen, library, and multifunctional gymnasium), which is placed directly in the center to facilitate direct access from all directions; and the semi-detached administrative area.
The system of bridge-corridors are functional zones and form a solid unit. In between these zones are playgrounds, sports fields, and green areas.
The main entrance is highlighted by a grand concave corridor, which is curved backward to make an open and welcoming square.
The facades are created with volumetric blocks, weaving in vertical and horizontal lines.
The vertical sunshades are placed on the longer sides of the building to control the amount of solar radiation.
The design also considers the outer flow of natural elements, human movement, and traffic.
The three entrances steer one-way traffic: one lane is for private vehicles to pick up the students, while the remaining lanes are for buses and the personal development facilities block.
The internal circulation is also carefully calculated; each route is reserved for a specific user to prevent congestion.
The building design comes from the form of the site itself, with respect for the surroundings, social responsibility, and sustainability in mind.
This is to ensure that students at The Dewey Schools are able to experience an ideal learning environment, where modern facilities do not compromise the convenience and the cozy feel of the place.
Project: The Dewey Schools
Architects: 1+1>2 Architects
Lead Architect: Hoang Thuc Hao
Design Team: Do Minh Duc, Nguyen Xuan Ngoc, Le Dinh Hung, Le Quang Viet, Nguyen Nam Duong, and Pham Hong Ngoc
Landscape Architects: DPLUS Vietnam
General Contractor: Inros Lackner Vietnam Co., Ltd
Client: Edufit Education Group Joint Stock Company
Photographers: Nguyen Thai Thach and Do Minh Duc
