According to the reviewer in the international journal A10, Tomas Lauri, the Umeå School of Architecture is “a photographer’s dream”. The large volume with the randomly placed windows can be captured by the camera in a single shot and “the facade has both lustre and graphic impact”.
The architecture has been tailored to the specific working processes of the school and the architects’ great insight into the users’ requirements is highly commended: “It is an inspiring fluid spatiality with stepless transisions from entrance to drawing office, stairs, gallery, exhibition hall and dining room. Add to this the openness of the staff room and an integrated workshop on the ground floor and one can speak of an outstandingly process-adapted school building.”
The architectural solutions “encourage, initiate and stimulate the educational process” and further, the article states that the building is itself “an educational tool”.
The architects behind the building design are Henning Larsen Architects and White Architects. Read more about the school at www.arch.umu.se