Child sitting on top of a colorful mound in a school playground.
Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.

September 11, 2021

Words: Edie Cohen

5 International Schools Show Educational Design is Smarter Than Ever

An international tour of schools, from kindergartens to colleges, shows educational design is smarter than ever.

Efficiency Lab for Architecture

  • Exterior of school with a red exposed stairwell.
    Photography by Si Hu.
  • A gathering area inside.
    Photography by Zhen Chao.
  • A blue alcove for reading or rest.
    Photography by Zhen Chao.
  • Exterior stairwell.
    Photography by Si Hu.
  • A green alcove.
    Photography by Zhen Chao.
  • A close up of the exterior ramp.
    Photography by Si Hu.

Project: Avenues Early Learning Center, Shenzhen, China.
Standout: One of seven buildings on the 4-acre campus of Avenues: The World School, the third outpost of the internationally focused private institution for nursery through 12th grade, the center is housed in a converted warehouse that connects to its neighboring structures via bridges and walkways, while roof gardens and vertical playgrounds assure learning is not limited to the classroom.

Pal Design Group

  • Indoor ball pit with peach colored balls beneath a spiral ceiling.
    Photography by Yan Ming/Ben-Mo Studio.
  • The cafe area.
    Photography by Yan Ming/Ben-Mo Studio.
  • A play area with a giant blue dinosaur.
    Photography by Yan Ming/Ben-Mo Studio.
  • An inviting green wall.
    Photography by Yan Ming/Ben-Mo Studio.

Project: Meiyi Royal Kindergarten Education Center, Shenzhen, China.
Standout: Occupying a former restaurant in a residential neighborhood, this two-story English-language day school provides 200 youngsters with abundant daylight and greenery, a reception lounge that doubles as an exhibition space, a theater and studios for the performing and visual arts, and an indoor playground complete with slide and ball pit.

Studio Dlux

  • An open area with a tree at center and green carpet that mirrors grass.
    Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.
  • A wood-centric hallway.
    Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.
  • Red doors open to more seating.
    Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.
  • A mound of colorful hills in the outdoor play area.
    Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.
  • A pop of color enlivens this indoor house within the school.
    Photography by Hugo Chinaglia.

Project: Red House International School, Curitiba, Brazil.
Standout: A starry night sky—painted on the ceiling of the large hall in a renovated former events facility—is shared by the seven classrooms in this early childhood school, which also encompasses art and music rooms, a cafeteria, library, and, outside, a polychrome rubberized-turf playground created by filling the existing swimming pool with the site’s construction rubble.

Studio Perspektiv

  • Geometric stacks of book shelves.
    Photography by Studio Flusser.
  • Library with yellow seating.
    Photography by Studio Flusser.
  • Wood table and yellow chairs.
    Photography by Studio Flusser.
  • Yellow and blue seating in a lounge area.
    Photography by Studio Flusser.


Project: Innovation and Education Center, International School of Prague.
Standout: A renovated building on ISP’s campus, the two-story center responds to the changes digital technology has brought to education, uniting a library and study spaces with a workshop, called the Idea-Lab, where pupils can put their theoretical learning to practical use with 3D printers, CNC-milling machines, laser cutters, and the like.

Bonnard + Woeffray

  • A light blue room.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.
  • colorful walkways.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.
  • Exterior of building with a grid of windows.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.
  • School hallway.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.
  • White open stairwell.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.
  • The exterior of the building.
    Photography by Roland Halbe.

Project: Croset-Parc College, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Standout: Opening onto a generous grassy quad, this new-build in an
upcoming residential area comprises two prefabricated-concrete volumes—the larger four-story component is for academic and extracurricular activities, its smaller, partly underground counterpart is a sports hall—with a central daylit void that provides visual connection between levels.

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