The project by IDOM and Rosan Bosch Studio for Markham College's primary school in Lima, Peru, proposes an open and flexible model designed to allow 750 students to continue their education even during a pandemic.
Learning and education must always continue. Even in times of a pandemic. Our proposal for the primary school at Markham College in Lima was designed with that goal in mind. It provides an ecosystem for learning, a flexible and future-proof environment focused on sustainability and outdoor learning. -- Manuel Andrades, project director at IDOM.
In 2020, the closure of schools and other educational institutions challenged education and culture worldwide. Against this backdrop and anticipating an uncertain future, Markham College in Lima, Peru, launched a competition for the design and construction of a new primary school building in the country. The winning proposal was submitted by the international team of IDOM and the Danish firm Rosan Bosch Studio.
The design is presented by the architects as a "pandemic-proof school." Focused on resilience, flexibility, and personalized learning, it aims to prevent future school closures due to situations like the current COVID-19 crisis. The project is conceived as a learning landscape that fosters each student's potential in an environment centered on shading and natural ventilation, providing 100% fresh air in line with recent pandemic safety recommendations.
The new primary school for Markham College will cover 10,000 square meters and host 750 students from 1st to 6th grade, offering a wide range of facilities: a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports fields, a music center, an art center, drama and dance studios, science and technology labs, a cafeteria, a theater, and an exhibition area. Read on for more details about the project from the designers:
Integrating Outdoor Learning
Instead of gathering all students in a single compact block, the new Markham College primary school distributes them across the spacious campus. The design promotes flexible space utilization and creates multipurpose areas and connections that support continuous movement throughout the school. Additionally, it supports modern educational approaches that encourage children to combine activities when studying a subject.
"We propose a community structure, replacing traditional classrooms with a flexible organizational system of home bases combined with communities. In this way, we create an inspiring learning landscape where students can develop agility, stimulate their creative skills, and build strong connections beyond their year group," explains Rosan Bosch, founder and creative director of Rosan Bosch Studio.
The school building features a thick outer barrier along the campus boundaries to shield it from city traffic. Inside, the three-story building embraces the green heart of the school. With a facade composed of balconies, vertical gardens, a learning bridge, and small courtyards, the building creates a diverse interior space and offers all students easy access to outdoor learning.
"We conceive this new school as a landscape project. It is architecture based on topography, natural materials, and Peruvian culture in relation to the landscape," says Manuel Andrades, project director at IDOM.
Connection to Nature and Sustainable Thinking
Using natural materials, sustainable solutions, and abundant vegetation, the architectural structure seamlessly weaves nature inside and outside the building. "Sustainability is one of the cornerstones of our design strategy. We are aiming for near-zero energy and a net-zero carbon footprint, while integrating local, repurposed, or recycled materials. The building is designed for natural cross-ventilation, providing 100% fresh air without any recirculation," explains Manuel Andrades.
Lima's warm climate allows for outdoor learning during most of the year. Shaded outdoor courtyards, vertical gardens, and inner patios create a climate-responsive learning landscape with a strong connection between nature and learning, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor education.
Inspired by the Peruvian landscape and the Hablador River, the design encourages a winding flow across the campus grounds. Like a river, the paths twist and branch out through the school's large courtyards, outdoor areas, and rooftop playground, bringing learning to every corner of the campus.
Prepared for the Unforeseen
This project marks the first collaboration between IDOM and Rosan Bosch Studio. We joined forces for the Markham College primary school competition because we believed it was the best way to create the ideal space for educating agile students who can adapt and think creatively during a crisis—something the COVID-19 pandemic has shown to be more important than ever.
With this new primary school, students will have a flexible building structure and diverse learning environments to support their educational journeys.
We invite you to check out ArchDaily's coverage related to COVID-19, read our tips and articles on productivity while working from home, and learn about technical recommendations for healthy design in your future projects. Also, remember to review the latest advice and information on COVID-19 on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
This article was written by Belén Maiztegui. The translation is powered by AI.
