Architecture – Storatek Architectural Studio has completed the C building for the Ayb Middle School in the city of Yerevan in Armenia. Situated in front of the A and B buildings, the 4200 sqm architecture accommodate 240 students and features also an amphitheater, game and recreation zones and a library. Rounded yellow cylindrical volumes hangs on a two-storey high white concrete block with large windows sitting on a darker and partially submerged basement.

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“The C building’s architectural philosophy lies in creating an open and collaborative educational environment that is multifunctional and allows for learning to take place in multiple ways.” Say at Storaket Architectural Studio to Archipanic.

On the first floor an amphitheatre facilitates entry to the workshops in the basement. With the use of hidden openings and walkways the interior of the first floor is connected to the landscape surrounding the exterior of the building. “This allows easy access to the outside and gives students the opportunity to leave the building and commune with nature”.

Classrooms and other educational spaces are located on the upper floors while social areas such as the hall and cafeteria are on the lower floor. “This creates a perception that the buildings have the same organizational structure despite externally having substantial differences”.

Storatek Architectural Studio avoided to use plaster while paint is kept to a minimum. Indeed, the walls are largely untouched exposing the concrete and have been treated with a water repellent coating. All wiring and communication engineering is exposed and a low-key color scheme is used throughout the building.

Despite the basement being submerged 4 meters below the surface of the ground, the rooms have access to natural light. The boundaries of the excavation go far beyond the contours of the building, forming a free perimeter for walking and going out into the yard.

The Ayb C building is filled with technological solutions to make the learning process as easy and seamless as possible. The structure was developed with the objective of energy efficiency and includes an energy-efficient air conditioning system.

On the southern facade, solar panels are mounted on the external wall. “A proprietary technology developed by our team uses sensors to automatically position the solar panels where the sun’s rays are most abundant”. A system for automatically dimming windows, in the event of excess light, has been developed and implemented.

All photos by Sona Manukyan & Ani Avagyan – courtesy of Storatek Architectural Studio.