[PHOTOS] Don't You Wish Your School Looked Like This?
Much thought and planning were put into the design of this school in KL. What was your school like?
By Judith Yeoh — 24 Jan 2014, 04:11 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Local architect Eleena Jamil wanted to improve the design and architecture of local schools. She designed SMK Desa Mahkota in KL with that mission.
The school has a built-up area of 13,000 m² with multi-purpose hall, classrooms, science and IT laboratories, library canteen and administration rooms
Image via designboom.comDesa Mahkota is a secondary school designed to accommodate up to 1200 students and 60 teaching staff. It is located on an elevated 1.8 hectare urban site in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
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Seeking to improve the standard typology typically found in the area, local firm eleena jamil architect created a continuous series of common or public spaces to help foster open communication and interaction between students and teachers.
Eleena's firm created a continuous series of common spaces to encourage communication and interaction between students and teachers
All windows and door openings of the school face North and South due to the common problem of direct exposure to morning and afternoon sun
(left) blocks are separated by green courtyards of different scales (right) fins and overhangs cuts out the sun from classrooms
Image via designboom.com
Ceilings and floors are deliberately left bare, exposing their structural concrete surfaces, so that their thermal mass can help regulate daytime temperatures. For example, heat is absorbed by the concrete slabs during the day and released during the night when the classrooms are not in use. Rooms are naturally ventilated during the night to remove the released heat from the space.
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Each courtyard is marked in different colours and littered with natural landscaping to make the school look less institutional
Each courtyard is further distinguished by the different colours assigned to the building facades. They play a major role in keeping spaces cool during the day, especially when the natural landscape has fully matured. They provide a cool respite and soften the angular geometry of the building blocks, making them feel less institutional.
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The school is equipped with a multipurpose hall, a canteen, science and IT laboratories and administration rooms
SMK Desa Mahkota accommodates up to 1200 students and 60 teaching staff and is located in Desa Park City, Kuala Lumpur
Eleena Jamil studied architecture in UK and has a PHD in Philosophy
Eleena is registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) and Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) since 2005. She is also registered with Architects Registration Board (ARB UK) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
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