THE CIRCLE

Project idea

This project proposes an educational space shaped around the spiral form, symbolizing continuous learning, personal growth, and social harmony. Beyond representing the cyclical nature of education and development, the spiral offers an embracing and inclusive spatial experience — drawing users inward, connecting diverse functions, and encouraging interaction.

The architectural concept is based on the idea that learning is a collective and lifelong journey. As users move along the spiral path, they encounter spaces designed for both formal and informal education, contemplation, and community building. Each turn of the spiral creates a moment of pause, orientation, or shared experience, reinforcing the idea of development through connection.

The main goal of the project is to create a flexible and holistic environment where space itself guides the learning process. The spiral form organizes modular educational units, gathering spaces, and open-air learning areas in a way that reflects progression and unity. This spatial strategy strengthens the sense of belonging and encourages participation, particularly within diverse and intergenerational learning communities.

Project description

The project layout is as follows: At the entrance, there is a security point and an information desk. There are 50 student dormitory buildings, each accommodating 4 students, providing a total capacity of 200 students. At the center of the spiral, all educational units are located. These include 3 laboratories, 2 workshops, 8 classrooms, and 1 library — with the library positioned at the very core.

The dining hall, wet areas, and a multi-purpose hall are arranged along the larger spiral. Additionally, there are facilities such as teachers' offices, meeting rooms, a health center, and a caretaker's house. The site also includes a small agricultural area and outdoor seating spaces.

Technical information

In my project, I primarily utilized local materials. For the construction of the walls, I used ICEB (Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks). The roof structure is a wooden truss roof, chosen to support natural ventilation and passive cooling. As for the main structural elements, I used wood and bamboo. For the uppermost shading layer, I used a thatched cover made of reeds, supported by bamboo elements. Additionally, to ensure privacy on the outermost perimeter, I created a dense arrangement of bamboo columns.

Documentation

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