Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Company Arup
Lead Designers Alison Gallagher, Shaun Xue, Giulio Antonutto, Cherry Wang
Architecture Company Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Interior Design Company Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Client Whittle School and Studios
Photo Credits Marcel Lam, Zhangchao
Completion Date 2019
Project Location Shenzhen, China
Entry DescriptionThe Whittle Schools concept is a global network of 36 schools for 3-18 year-olds, and the lighting was designed as a global standard to be implemented across the client’s future schools.
Our daylighting and electric lighting design sought to create a high level of visual comfort for a pleasant learning environment.
For exterior lighting, we wanted to create an object of subtle prominence that is also a neighbourhood landmark. To express the lantern concept, vertical surfaces were illuminated for functional purposes. They remain illuminated after school hours to achieve a glow through the transparent façade after dark, creating an elegant expression that is recognizable, aids orientation, and in harmony with its surroundings. Trees and shrubs are softly illuminated to complement the lantern.
The highly flexible interior lighting design is key to deliver the best teaching environment. Classroom lighting scenes are created for a range of learning environments to suit different age groups and furniture configurations.
Through close coordination with the design team, we achieved a well-designed school that is modern, highly functional, yet contextually sensitive and visually charming.
