Henning + Larsen The French International School’s (FIS) Tseung Kwan O campus, located in Hong Kong, won't open until 2018, but its attention to sustainability and playful design are already light years ahead of the average. Once the school opens, kids will be free to run on a winding 400-meter track, play in a kaleidoscopic gymnasium, and learn inside open-concept classrooms. Danish architecture firm Henning + Larsen recently unveiled its designs for the K-12 school, which design director Louis Becker tells Tech Insider were personalized for Hong Kong's drier, temperate climate. It's a wonder in education design. THE SCHOOL IS A TOWERING, OPEN-AIR STRUCTURE THAT REGULATES ITS INTERNAL TEMPERATURE LARGELY THROUGH INSULATED WALLS AND PASSING BREEZES. Henning + Larsen Throughout much of the year in Hong Kong, the temperature is mild and dry. "We can use that to have a lot of outdoor spaces," Becker says. Dotting the campus are dozens of plants, trees, and hanging gardens. The jogging track itself isn't a standard oval but a spaghetti-like course that weaves in and out of the buildings. IN THE BACK OF THE CAMPUS IS A STRUCTURE KNOWN AS THE "VILLA," WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE CLASSROOMS ARE LOCATED. Henning + Larsen The Villa features airy balconies and the primary hanging gardens. The classrooms aren't separated by fixed walls and doors, but rather loosely divided by playful barriers. The botanical garden allows for outdoor study of environmental phenomena, such as rainwater collection and plant biology. BECKER SAYS THE STYLE WILL MIMIC THE GREEK AGORA, WHICH ONCE SERVED AS THE CENTER FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL LIFE. Henning + Larsen While typical classrooms feature one teacher lecturing to a couple dozen students, the story is much different at FIS. Instead, dual teachers instruct in a wide-open environment, more similar to the gymnasiums found throughout Europe. Students can learn from one another and guide their own education, rather than always relying on teachers. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER
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