Evolutionary process
Since its opening in 2009, Pavlovskaya Gymnasium in New Riga has positioned itself as a privileged school, able, thanks to a unique educational system and space designed and built specifically for it, to successfully compete with foreign private schools. The educational process in the gymnasium is built according to the traditional principle of dividing into several schools by age groups, for each of which its own block is allocated as part of a common campus, grouped around a central courtyard.
The improvement and functional filling of the vast territory of the gymnasium was decided in a classical way with lawns, paths and spacious grounds for special events, but without the necessary functional zoning, division into active and quiet zones, well-developed routes and an event program. The introduction of new pedagogical methods aimed at unleashing the creative potential of students and the development of a horizontal model of interaction between teachers and students launched an evolutionary process, supported by the board of trustees of the gymnasium and the entire community. Changes in the education system gave rise to a demand for a new quality of space in which the educational process takes place, both inside the complex and outside, on the territory of the gymnasium. To find an answer to the question of what this space should become, the leadership of the Pavlovsk Gymnasium invited the Druzhba bureau, one of the key competencies of which is the design of educational spaces and the use of participatory design practice with adults and children.
Community Opinion
The work on the project was preceded by several engagement programs. The team of the Child Development Laboratory from Moscow State Pedagogical University began working with children and analyzed the preferences of students and kindergarten teachers. Then the educational center "Dragonoproject" and the architects of the "Druzhba" bureau, during the Gymnasium Day, together with children of different ages and teachers, explored the territory using emotional maps. Separately with the students, new play scenarios for the courtyard and interior of the gymnasium were developed. As a result of the common work, the opinion of all members of the community was collected and analyzed, including not only students and their parents, but also the administration and teachers who actively participated in identifying the preferences of children.
All together they figured out what a gymnasium is, what values it lives, what objects in the complex are in demand and how, and which ones are not yet, but they are very necessary. As a result of joint work under the guidance of experienced architects and moderators, new directions and formats for the transformation of the gymnasium were identified, including in terms of the integrated development of its territory.
Places for everything and everyone
Several large zones were identified on the territory of the gymnasium, with their own function, program and design. The architects reflected these wishes in the new concept of the master plan.
Next to the main school, the administration building and the junior school, in front of the entrance to the courtyard, there is a welcome zone - a space used by all members of the gymnasium community to meet with the guests of the gymnasium, from which one can go to the courtyard, which has been turned into a kind of "ceremonial living room" holding celebrations, celebrations and awards, - with a wooden pergola that protects from the sun and an amphitheater on the slope that can accommodate all the students of the gymnasium. A typology of pergolas and awnings was developed, which will appear in other areas of the gymnasium as part of the new design code.
Near the buildings of all four schools, there are areas designated for quiet and active recreation and activities for children. The elementary school area has been converted into a "Playground" with many routes, slides and climbing frames. In addition to the elementary school, older children will also be able to use this playground. Separately, the territory of the kindergarten is fenced off, which was named "The Island", as it is a separate world with a system of mini-spaces, united by a common pergola. For the development of kids, there will be playgrounds and sports grounds and even a small weather station. Additionally, a place has been allocated for a street lecture hall, for which, due to the natural relief of the site, a small amphitheater will be arranged. In the opposite part of the territory, next to the sports building, a sports area will be located, which will include the existing stadium, a new tribune, a pump track, a place for teenagers and an additional shed for yoga.
"Green garden" - "green class"
The zone of the so-called "Green Garden" was collectively chosen as a launching pad for the start of changes - a site in front of the blocks of three schools: junior, middle and senior, part of which was recently planted with young apple trees. Despite the location next to the school buildings and of particular importance to the community, practically nothing happened in this area. Whereas, based on the results of a study of the opinions of students and teachers, a new space could appear here, which could be used both as an external recreation and as a meeting place.
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zooming 1/11 "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 2/11 Functional diagram. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 3/11 Axonometry of the main functional areas. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 4/11 Vegetable garden. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 5/11 Adventure route. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 6/11 Educational area. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 7/11 Eco trail. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 8/11 Entrance area. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 9/11 General plan. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 10/11 Fragment of the general plan. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 11/11 Axonometry. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
Initially, the architects proposed the concept of a "green class" in the open air - a natural cognitive zone, a place of interaction with nature, observing its cycles, combining outdoor recreation and education, thematic meetings and presentations in the warm season.
Due to the status of the pilot site and the enormous importance that this new zone will have for the entire project for the development of the gymnasium territory, it was decided to supplement the Green Garden program with several functional blocks at once: play, educational and recreational, which can be used by students and teachers of all schools … The territory of the "Green Garden" is divided into quiet and active zones, located along two routes - the main and additional, bypass, which allows you to maintain a balance of privacy and publicity, and see where and what is happening, but not disturb others.
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zooming 1/10 Individual equipment."Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 2/10 Educational pavilions. Functional diagram. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 3/10 Landscaping scheme. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 4/10 Coating scheme. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 5/10 Lighting. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 6/10 Lighting. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 7/10 Standard equipment. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 8/10 Individual equipment. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 9/10 Individual equipment. Development project of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium "Green Garden" © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
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zooming 10/10 Individual equipment. "Green Garden", the project for the development of the territory of the Pavlovsk gymnasium © Architectural bureau "Druzhba"
From the entrance area, you can walk past the vegetable garden and greenhouses, directly to the educational pavilions, which consist of separate functional parts. In them, you can get several classes together, give a lesson in the fresh air, or work out on your own. If you want and have some free time, on the way you can drop by the Trampoline Glade, the Besedka or the eco-trail, and watch insects or birds. An obstacle course is hidden behind the Trampoline Glade. The bravest gymnasium students can test their dexterity on the real Zip-line (trolls), which stretches to the left of the entrance square, along the inner driveway and parking lot. There are several mini-spaces for teachers in which they can relax or work in between lessons. Most of the objects on the territory of the "Green Garden", such as all pavilions, gazebos and greenhouses, are designed individually, but the play equipment and outdoor furniture are standard, which allows you to optimize the project budget.
Special attention in the project is paid to the landscaping of the territory, so that, despite the richness of various functions and objects, the "Green Garden" remains green. New trees and shrubs will be planted to separate different areas, flower beds, a vegetable garden for exploring the flora, and a lawn for recreation and play. Natural, durable and easy-to-use coating materials are selected for each element of the infrastructure, paths, playgrounds and zones.
The project pays great attention to lighting. As a result, not only ordinary outdoor lighting is provided on the territory of the Green Garden, but also the “magic” lighting of the eco-path.
Currently, construction work is underway at the site of the future Green Garden, which is scheduled to be completed by October. The development and implementation of the following functional areas is planned to begin next year, at the end of spring, so as not to interfere with the educational process.
