Design revealed for Faroe Islands' Education Centre

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Fuglark Architects and a team of consultants have won the design contract for the largest educational building project in the Faroe Islands' history.

BIG and Fuglark, in collaboration with Lemming & Eriksson, Sámal Johannesen, Martin E. Leo and KJ Elrad, have designed the new 19200 m² Education Centre in Marknagil, situated on a hillside on the outskirts of Torshavn, to serve as a base for coordination and future development of all educational programmes in the region.

The new centre combines Faroe Islands Gymnasium, Torshavns Technical College and Business College of Faroe Islands in one building, housing 1200 students and 300 teachers.

The design was chosen by an unanimous jury which comprised an architect, representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Landsverk together with principals from each of the three schools.

In a statement from BIG it said the centre, which will be located 100 m above sea level, is designed as a vortex radiating out towards its surroundings while at the same time focusing in on the school's inner landscape.

It added, "Each institution is organised as a school within a school with ideal conditions for each, while creating a sense of community for learning and life.

"Each school will function independently comprising the space it requires with room to grow in the future. Additionally by combining the three schools under one roof they will create the synergetic effect of a vertical campus."

At the school's heart is an open space creating a natural gathering point across floor levels and academic interests, the statement said.

Bjarke Ingels, creative director at BIG said, "The architectural expression of the new Education Centre in Marknagil captures the essence of: form follows function."

Meanwhile, Jakup Pauli Johannesen, partner, Fuglark Architects said, "The architecture of the school emphasises an educational equality, with lobbies and the central rotunda space promoting a sense of community across the three different schools."