https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/2394 en-us In Japan, where the birthrate is dropping and the elderly population is rising, more schools are closing than opening. But in Kumamoto prefecture on the nation's southernmost island, Kyushu, the city of Uto was faced with an aging elementary school and nearly 800 youngsters to educate.

]]> uto-elementary-school-cat.asp Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7279-uto-elementary-school Uto Elementary School Jutting out above the south-facing elevation of the north side's second floor, hefty steel beams anchored by steel tension rods secure the roof of the gymnasium.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School Leafy deciduous trees separate the school from nearby houses.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School Lightweight yet sturdy enough to withstand Kyushu's torrential typhoons, folding windows eliminate the need for mechanical air-conditioning, while canopies shield the interior from the sun.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School The school's swimming pool, used during the summer months, is to the west of the building, next to enclosed concrete changing rooms.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School Bifolding glass doors turn the covered porch into an extension of the classroom.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Windowlike cutouts in the L-shaped walls connect teaching and circulation areas and display student work. Uto Elementary School CAtUto, JapanWindowlike cutouts in the L-shaped walls connect teaching and circulation areas and display student work. Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School Blurring inside and out, connected courtyards bind the school's two sides together.   Photo © Sadao Hotta Uto Elementary School   Image courtesy CAt Uto Elementary School   Image courtesy CAt