The project ‘Space within Space’ work with the establishment of Frederiksberg New School. The city of Frederiksberg, the green oasis of Copenhagen, needs a new and bigger school, due to an increased population within the municipality. The school must relate to the new school reform, which become effective from 1th of August 2014. It is suggested that the existing Føbelsseminar is rebuilt into a public school; further more it is expanded with new buildings to accommodate a 3 tracked school with all the hereto needed functions.
The new school reform changes the way that students and teacher use the public school and it comes with a number of demand in regards of learning methods, diversity and individual development. This raises demands to the architectural framework of the modern school. The new circumstances and demands must be taken into account in the design of e.g. classrooms, common rooms and activity rooms. The different rooms must accommodate versatility that can support the diversity of the students and the different learning methods. A classroom should not just be a room, where students are sitting in rows, the common areas should not just be a way of getting from a to b and the students needs to be activated and to thrive during the entire school day. A main focus of the project is therefore Space within Space, the notion that a room should have multiple functions and accommodate classes as well as smaller groups or individual immersion. The student should be able to retreat to a space in the back of the class for immersion or for a short break. The hallways will not only be dedicated to transit, but form a space for temporary meetings and work in minor groups.
In the establishment of the new school a central focal point is social and climatic sustainability. The school is the place, where students meet the world, and it is therefore important that the architecture supports social sustainability and contributes to tolerance and social capacity. Finally the building must also adhere to the 2020 energy frame according to the Danish Building Regulations, as well as indoor climate demands to secure a good learning environment. This requires a holistic approach within the design process in order to balance the aesthetical and functional parameters with the parameters of energy consumption, thermal and atmospheric comfort as well as light conditions. This must be put in conjunction with the overall structure and architectural expression to create an integrated project.