https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/2842-o-office en-us A private boarding school in a former textile factory in China uses design to engage students with the history and topography of its site.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13818 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 09:05:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13818-ming-de-academy-by-o-office-architects The architects transformed the old factory’s textile warehouse into the school’s main academic building, in which they carved out a spacious corridor that looks into classrooms and punched skylights into the roof. Photo © Zhang Chao The architects transformed the old factory’s textile warehouse into the school’s main academic building, in which they carved out a spacious corridor that looks into classrooms and punched skylights into the roof. Photo © Wu Siming The architects took advantage of the factory’s generous floor-to-ceiling heights to insert mezzanines in classrooms. Photo © Zhang Chao An elevated footbridge connects the academic building to the science center. Photo © Huang Chengqiang The library’s perforated Cor-Ten walls envelop raised courtyards open to the sky. Photo © Wu Siming The architects added stairs and entries to a former workers’ housing block for the No. 3 Student Dorm. Photo © Zhang Chao Articulated windows and interior color transform another workers’ living quarters into the No. 2 Student Dorm. Photo © Zhang Chao Articulated windows and interior color transform another workers’ living quarters into the No. 2 Student Dorm. Photo © Zhang Chao A snaking walkway traverses the site by the No. 1 Student Dorm. Photo © Zhang Chao A second skin of steel grating envelops the old managers’ apartment building and creates an interstitial space, where teachers can relax outside their apartments and grow plants. Photo © Zhang Chao An exterior stair added to the teacher’s housing building offers views of the student center. Photo © Wu Siming An exterior stair added to the teacher’s housing building offers views of the student center. Photo © Wu Siming Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Grey Fabric Warehouse - now the Academic Building                            Image courtesy O-office Architects Inside the former Grey Fabric Warehouse - now the Academic Building. Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Academic Building interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Dyeing Warehouse - now the Science Building. Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Science Building interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Engine-generator Room - now the Library. Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of the Library interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects Workers' Dormitory - now the No.3 Student Dormitory. Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Student Dormitory #3 interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Workers' Dormitory - now the No.2 Student Dormitory.                            Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Workers' Dormitory - now the No.2 Student Dormitory. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Training Building - now the No.1 Student Dormitory (left) and the former Worker Canteen - now the Student Center (right). Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Student Dormitory #1 interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Premium Dormitory - now Teacher's Housing. Image courtesy O-office Architects The former Premium Dormitory, now Teacher's Housing (left) and the former Worker Canteen, now the Student Center (right). Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Student Center interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects Axonometric Drawing of Teachers’ Housing interventions. Image courtesy O-office Architects