Montage of Melodies: A Revolution in School Design

Transforming the International School of Beijing into a Dynamic Learning Center

The design was inspired by the concept of a montage in motion pictures and the melodies in music. The intention was to create small learning communities, each with its unique colors, forms, and placemaking, drastically different from one another yet fitting seamlessly into the existing architectural framework. Each community is designed to be highly open and adaptable, catering to different student ages and learning programs. The design logic is consistent, with each community having a feature center and the ability to be re-configured to meet changing learning requirements.

What sets Montage of Melodies apart is its proactive approach to renovating the International School of Beijing. The design aims to replace the over-unified, solemn institutional building with a versatile, dynamic learning center empowered by a variety of age-appropriate, program-centered communities. All learning communities are imagined as music melodies, composing a unique montage to activate a new order of the school environment.

The design realization technology used in this project prioritizes environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and low maintenance. Low eaves, small fenestrations, simple forms, modest access colors, and a large amount of wood and concrete finishes are utilized to create a natural and relaxing ambiance. Movable partitions and loose furniture are employed universally to ensure the maximum flexibility of learning spaces.

The design project took place in the International School of Beijing, located in Shunyi District of Beijing, China. The design was commenced in May 2017 followed by construction, lasting for a total duration of nearly three and half years. In September 2020, ISB moved its students and faculties into the newly expanded and renovated facility.

One of the challenges faced during the design process was the conflict between the limited budget and high expectations from each learning community that refused to compromise. The design team successfully chose the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and low-maintenance materials and methods to turn the design intent into reality. The result is a montage that activates a new order of the school environment, with the school activity not pausing for a single day during the 3-year construction.