Photography: SS Tokyo, Eastern Photo

Composed of three functions that mutually corporate, an educational facility has been developed as a part of the reconstruction project to establish a building that houses both Roka Elementary School and Roka Junior High School, which previously had separate buildings in one location, combined with the relocation and joint establishment project of Hachimanyama Nursery School.
With the aim of retaining the charm and value of the green courtyard that existed at the elementary and junior high schools before the reconstruction, the facility was constructed in a simple functional layout, in which the regular classrooms are set up in the south and special classrooms in the north with semi-exterior elements, such as the courtyard, terraces, atriums, and passageways, embedded in-between, in order to achieve a bright and healthy living and learning environment by drawing in the natural lighting and ventilation in the communal areas.
Measures that contribute to both energy efficiency and a comfortable environment for the children are introduced upon verification of their benefits through various simulations. Examples of such measures include a solar chimney that facilitates natural ventilation during the transitional seasons, and light shelves that provide a favorable in-class visual environment while also ensuring visibility and lighting.