Collage of Melodies: A Harmonious Blend of Art and Architecture

Architect Xiaoyi Ma's Award-Winning Design Transforms the International School of Beijing

As a leading K12 school, the International School of Beijing sought to evolve its learning environment to the cutting edge. Xiaoyi Ma's design, Collage of Melodies, was the answer. This proactive architectural approach expands and renovates the school, transforming the formerly over-unified, solemn institution into a versatile, dynamic education architecture. Each learning community within the school is treated as an independent image, distinct from the overall school, and filled into the existing building framework. The result is a refreshing collage of art and music melodies.

What sets Collage of Melodies apart is its unique approach to design and construction. The vertical sunshades of the building enclosure are composed of natural wood-veneer resin panels and colorful Trespa panels. These not only block out excessive sunlight but also reduce energy consumption. The seemingly random angles of the sunshades are compiled using software based on a piece of music, while the mixed colors are imagined as liquid paint dripping on the wood facade by a mischievous young child.

The design project was a collaborative effort involving educators, students, and the design team. The project consists of five learning communities including Early Learning Community, ES Arts Center, ES Library, MS/HS Design Center, and MS/HS Performing Arts Center. The design team worked closely with different educators and students to establish design strategies together. The collaboration was successful in methods of questionnaires, focus group discussion, design charette, and etc. The designer even worked with kindergarteners to observe their feedbacks.

The project posed several challenges, the most significant being the cost exceeding the standard while each team wanted the perfect building space. The design team managed to overcome this by choosing low-cost but high-quality materials to achieve the expected effect. The aim was to achieve the maximum value of the actual building with low cost.

Collage of Melodies is not just an architectural design; it's a celebration of diversity and innovation. It represents a new era of education, where the learning environment is as dynamic and versatile as the students it nurtures. The design was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.