WALDORF ELEMENTARY

Objective: Establish commons to address tension between the communities of Wooldawn and the University of Chicago

Project Date: Spring 2022

Instructo r: Jaya Mukhopadhyay

The Waldorf educational philosophy centers around holistic learning within a natural context. With this, integration of nature into learning and playing spaces becomes the guiding principal of the project, with indoor-outdoor classrooms anchoring themselves to the adjacent Bozeman creek. A large central atrium establishes a centralized circulation and play space with year long growing to provide access to nature throughout the long Montana winters. An extensive greenroof provides additional learning and performative spaces. The greenroof cuts through the atrium at a series of points, weaving the growing platform into the interior. Access to natural light is provided in the entirety of the building, with clerestory windows lighting classroom spaces while blocking unfavorable views into an alley and a busy street.

Model: atrium as indoor playground / workshop

Initial study models center around a variety of daylighting strategies and orientation of indoor-outdoor programming along Bozeman creek. Later studies expand on the initially condenced greenroof, wrapping it around the entire building. The roof of the atrium was altered to fluctuate between maximizing southern and northern light depending on programmatic needs, and was stepped down to divide the atrium space into three distinct programs.