Nature as a learning landscape
We’ve won the design competition for the new Hånes School and district building in Kristiansand.
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Director, Norway
Set on the east side of Toppdalsfjorden, the new primary school and district building places nature at the center of everyday learning, play, and community life. Our design responds directly to the site’s sloping terrain, rich landscape, and existing forest; making the landscape an active and meaningful part of children’s daily school life.
The new primary school, won in collaboration with Ramboll, continues our work with the local schools in Kristiansand and will serve the same students as Lauvåsen Secondary School. Accommodating around 600 students, the primary school will be completed by the end of 2029.
In the heart of the forest
Organized as a Y-shaped building, the school is structured around a central social heart with a shared gathering space, amphitheater, and library. To the south of the new school, the old forest will be both playground and learning area, supporting movement, collaboration, and discovery. The school is oriented towards the forest, drawing it visually and spatially into the heart of the building. Paths are established with minimal intervention, complemented by information points about local flora and fauna. Rainwater from the school roof is integrated into the play landscape through canals and small pools, creating hands-on learning about natural processes.
“The project brings the forest into the heart of the building, opening toward an amphitheater and ensuring that greenery is visible from all sides. The school is designed as both a place of learning and a local meeting point, with a strong connection between landscape, play, and education.”
Karoline Igland
Director, Norway
