Upside-Down School

The Arcadia Preparatory School Makes The Most Of Restricted Space To Deliver Educational Excellence.

Architects tasked with creating a school on a small plot in a residential area of Dubai hit upon an innovative way to make the most of the floor space available – they turned the building upside-down. So, at The Arcadia Preparatory School designed by God win Austen Johnson (GAJ), the MEP is housed in the basement, while a football pitch and swimming pool are atop the structure. The school building currently accommodates around 100 pupils, but will eventually house up to 750 in the age range of three years until 11 years.

Architect Jason Burnside said, recalling the genesis of the project: “We had just a small plot to work with – around 6,000sq-m. But we wanted to make the most of it.

“First, there was the entrance – we made it open and light with vibrant colours to greet students, teachers and parents. There are stairs leading up to the first floor, and these can also be used as a communal space – especially if there is an event taking place in the open space on the ground level.”

Graham Beale, principal of the school, was clear in what he required from the design team.

“What we wanted to emphasise were three aspects that reflect the school and its philosophy. These are light, transparency and openness. In this regard, GAJ has succeeded at designing on a remarkably complex site. The team achieved what we originally envisaged.”

Architect Raina Viegas said the GAJ team was fully aware of the challenges they were undertaking. “What we wanted to do, was ensure that our design matched the vision of the client,” she said.