Image Credit : Rasmus Hjortshoj
Project Overview
Located on the undulating fjords of Faroe Islands, with views to the capital Tórshavn, the sea and verdant fells, Glasir seeks to harvest the efficiencies of combining Faroe Islands Gymnasium, Tórshavn Technical College and the Business College of Faroe Islands into one building for over 1,750 students, teachers and staff.
Project Commissioner
Faroe Islands Ministry of Culture / Landsverk
Project Creator
Project Brief
Glasir retains the autonomy and individual identity for each of the three schools while creating ideal conditions for collaboration and learning to flourish — an incubator for innovation rather than a traditional school setting. Shaped by the internal needs of the students and teachers, Glasir is conceived as a stack of five individual levels that wrap around a central courtyard: one for each of the three institutions, one for food and faculty, and one for physical exercise and gatherings. The building is organised like a vortex, with each level opening up and the top levels radiating 30m / 100ft out towards the mountainous landscape.
Designed as an extension and interpretation of the natural landscape, the 32m diameter indoor courtyard with terraced steps provide generous, flexible spaces for group meetings, social events and dining, as well as auditorium seating for larger events or announcements. Above, gigantic transparent skylights shelter the space from the wind and weather of the harsh Faroese climate while allowing abundant daylight into the atrium.
Cascading across several levels, the stepped topography merges the multistory building into a single entity. At the top levels, the high school and business school cantilever towards the mountain-range and moorland landscapes, creating a building that opens towards the city in all directions. The outer backdrop to the stunning Faroese landscape surrounding the education centre is always visible, from the courtyard and classrooms to the gymnasium and library.
Government - Space
Government projects celebrate the courage of both commissioners and creators design projects across the government, education and other publicly funded sectors.
The space category celebrates the design process and outcomes of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, and aesthetic considerations. It includes architecture, interior design and landscape design as well as set display and exhibition design.
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