Sezin Kindergarten and Primary School are designed to infuse flexible pedagogical spaces with a spatially hybrid program that fosters playing, meeting, working, and learning into a school with a 60-year legacy as well as its own culture. The project entailed light-handed, yet effective interventions conducted over a duration of 2 summer breaks.
The design research immersion with over 200 hours of fieldwork framed the early discussions, encapsulating interviews with teachers and students, cultural probes, workshops, and passive on-site observations.
The project is shaped around major insights; Current schools prioritized the needs of extrovert students, with abundant open play spaces. Spaces for a moment of refuge and introspection are essential for inclusive learning environments.
A mental model that flips a knowledge-centered experience towards a learner-centered one is crucial to support different learning journeys. The need for a “stage” for student presentations became evident, alongside individual desk spaces to provide “personal territory.” Students’ curiosity and engagement with their surroundings should be encouraged independently from formative principles.
Location:TurkeyArchitect: Nesile YalçınArchitecture Office:Nesile Yalçın, Gizem Akın, Elif Karaköse, Begüm UralLandscape Architects:Nesile YalçınDesign Team: Ece Çiftçi, Deniz Dönmez, Can GörgünProject Team:Akım Engineering, Esan Engineering, Parça Project, Doruk Engineering, Tayfur Somer ConstructionClient: Sezin SchoolPhotographer: Yerçekim Photography (Orhan Kolukısa)
