The contemporary architecture and interiors combined with the focus
on cutting edge IT and strong connections to Chinese culture, seek
to create a new paradigm in school environments in the 21st Century-
reflecting the way that people learn, work and interact in today’s
world.
WAB’s Values are infused in many features throughout the
school:
Learner Centered
China-Global Coherence
Caring
Mosaic of Diversity
WAB Spirit- ‘Gong He’
Atrium
A central atrium space was incorporated in the design of the
Elementary School, which opened in 2001. 'The Atrium' serves
as a flexible, multi-purpose village 'green' space in the heart
of the Elementary School building which is used for dining,
functions and learning.
This concept has been incorporated in the design of other
buildings at WAB appearing as the ‘Piazza’ in
the ECC, the ‘Galleri’ in the Middle School and
the ‘LINK’ in the HUB Sports Arts & Technology
Center.
The atrium in the High School is WAB’s boldest attempt
to create a contemporary community space as the heart of the
building, with most spaces adjoining onto it or circulating
through it.
The atrium brings light into the High School and is divided
into a number of symbolic courtyards- the Koi Garden, Bamboo
Court, and the ‘Jin Xin Jiao’ – Stone Courtyard
Garden.
It includes the Entrance Lobby, a series of shops fronts providing
services- Qi Clinic, Infinity (IT Support, Print/Copy, Stationery
and Bookstore) and the Firewall IT Labs and Internet Café.
[click here for pictures]
Student Lounges - Chinese, English and Humanities
Three smaller study and relaxation lounges are incorporated throughout
the High School. These include the Chinese, English and Humanities
lounges which are located adjacent to the classrooms and facility
offices.
They are designed to also facilitate informal access between teachers
and students. The Humanities and English lounges feature custom
designed wallpaper that reflects the learning in each specific subject
area. Customized wallpaper is also incorporated inside all classrooms
and provides a strong connection to Chinese culture. [click
here for pictures]
The Bamboo Court
The Bamboo Court is a multi-purpose space designed as a study hall
and as a meeting and dining space. A buffet style hot meal service
is provided here at lunch each day. This space features a permanent
installation of black and white photographs reflecting historical
landmarks (some no longer standing) of Beijing. The collection highlights
the great diversity in roof styles of these buildings. [click
here for pictures]
Qing Tian Ge
WAB's new High School Library Qing Tian Ge (Green Sky Studio) is
named in the classic style of Chinese libraries as a “Ge” or studio.
Qing represents a blue/green color that represents the merging of
the sky and the lake. On a sunny day, the sky and surrounding landscape
is reflected on the lake's surface. These views provide a great
backdrop for study and research, which in High School can be quite
demanding and tiring. The open study area adjoins a study / teaching
room, a conference room, the Wild Ginger Café and a balcony overlooking
the lake. [click here for
pictures]
The Bamboo Gallery
Each building in the WAB campus provides gallery exhibition spaces
that provide an ongoing showcase of the Arts at WAB and in the community.
With the spectacular light provided by the central atrium and the
staircase atriums, the WAB High School provides an outstanding place
to exhibit art.
The ‘Bamboo Gallery’ exhibition features a wide range
of media by local, international and student artists. [click here for pictures]
Featured Artists
Denise Keele-Bedford, Shen Jingdong, Lu Yunting, Guo Bin, Susan
Scherer
Student Artist
Soo Mee (Rachel) Lee, Sarah Ding, Ruth Sowerby, Youn Kyung Kim,
Sophie Dilley, Fearn Sandison, Joanne Chang, Yeo Jin Yoon, Hee Ryung
Kim Martin Brabnik, Hanna Hyvarinen, Noel Onyimbo, Hee Joe Yang,
Josfin Boren, Kwang Sik Shin, Brittany Maki, Chen Yi (Cindy) Shi,
Anna-Lina Helsen
The Koi Garden
The Koi Garden 'Reading Lounge' is a place to read, meet, study
and dine. It features a display of 'new books', a collection of
magazines, journals, newspapers, and a college research area. The
Koi Garden includes the Koi Café and Amphitheater- a place for meetings,
and presentations or just reading. It also provides the entrance
to the Administration and Counseling area.
The Koi Garden is rich in two key symbols of Chinese culture that
have been incorporated as design features of the interiors- Bamboo
() and
the Koi ()
Bamboo ()
(Zhu2)
Bamboo, which features throughout WAB’s new High School, has
long been associated with education in Chinese culture. The hollow
at the center of bamboo suggests the pure heart that is so necessary
for a learner, while its strong roots allude to the depth education
can bring to a student’s life. However strongly the wind blows
or the sun shines, bamboo will continue to grow, step-by-step, just
as a student learns. The growth of the bamboo is clearly visible
on its joints, signifying the learner’s open mind and clarity
and consistency of purpose.
Koi ()
(Jin3li3)
When entering the High School, visitors are welcomed by the colorful
school of Koi, who are permanent residents of the Koi Garden’s
winding waterway. The Koi (,
or Jin3li3) are members of the carp family, whose variety of brilliant
colors reflect the diversity of WAB’s community. In China,
they are associated with perseverance. A myth tells the story of
the carp (
or li3yu2) who swims upstream against the waterfalls of the mighty
Yantze River to transform into a great water dragon. The carp’s
perseverance serves as a reminder to us all, that the path to success
requires resolve and determination. This is captured in the Chinese
proverb ‘Carps Jumping over the Dragon Gate (-
li yu tiao long men).
According to legend, the ancestors of today’s carps once
lived in the East China Sea. Every March, when peach flowers were
in full blossom, the snow on the upper reaches of the Yellow River
would melt, and the river water would rise. The carps in the East
China Sea would swim in groups against the current to gather at
the Dragon Gate for a grand contest held by the Jade Emperor. The
idea of the contest was to see who could jump over the gate. It
was flood season, and the river had rapids and high waves. The carps
that could jump over the Dragon Gate became dragons by the grace
of the Jade Emperor, and those that failed returned to the East
China Sea to try again some day. This proverb is used to encourage
a person to persist in one’s endeavor. It means that if a
person works hard at whatever he does, he could one day become successful.
[click here for
pictures]
Ping Xin Yuan (Peace Park West Bank)
Last year, WAB opened the HUB Arts & Technology Center and Ping Xin
Yuan (Peace Park). The opening of the High School and the acquisition
of the 'Wild Duck Lake' allows for the expansion of the Peace Park
to extend across all these areas including the new west bank of the
Peace Park.
Each bank features traditional Chinese gateways or ‘Pai Lou’
and a Bell Pavilion on the east bank and a Drum Pavilion on the
west. The Ping Xin Yuan West Bank provides landscaped areas to enjoy
the lake precinct and includes a half basketball court.
The Wild Duck Lake Rehabilitation Project plans to rejuvenate this
wetland to include ‘a natural reed bank’ filtration
and circulation systems and two islands that will promote the return
of bird life. A footbridge will be built between the gateways. [click
here for pictures]
High School Exteriors
The High School exteriors incorporate the hutong grey brick and
the rich red of the imperial city. The formal façade of the building,
which is functionally the gymnasium, fronts onto Lai Guang Ying
Dong Lu and provides a sound barrier to the bustling street. The
building design focuses on the lake aspect and the connection to
the rest of the campus and the inner atrium.
WAB’s signature ‘Red Gateway’ provides a formal
entrance to the High School. The main entrance takes pedestrians
onto a meandering path through a bamboo grove and stone garden to
provide a calming transition before entering the building. [click
here for pictures]
) and
the Koi (
)
or li3yu2) who swims upstream against the waterfalls of the mighty
Yantze River to transform into a great water dragon. The carp’s
perseverance serves as a reminder to us all, that the path to success
requires resolve and determination. This is captured in the Chinese
proverb ‘Carps Jumping over the Dragon Gate (
-
li yu tiao long men).
