Beirut Based Architects Create Sinuous Education Centre in Armenia

YEREVAN (DesignMENA) — Beirut-based architecture and design firm Paul Kaloustian Studio is designing a education centre in the northern province of Lori in Armenia.

Commissioned by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), an initiative that creates opportunities for the rural areas of the country by implementing philanthropic, education and health projects, the Smart Centre is set to serve 2o villages in the area.

The Smart Centre is an education centre with a focus on information technology, arts and crafts as well as sports.

The structure’s organic form embraces the surrounding landscape of mountains by creating a sinuous ribbon-like walkway that gives shape to a 700m2 courtyard.

The single storey building is spread horizontally, following the topography of the site.

The project is made up of a program dedicated to education and community, complete with computer labs, classes, an auditorium and a restaurant while other adjacent facilities include a sports field, open air workshops and an outdoor auditorium.

A separate smaller structure includes a day care and a nursery and another houses a guest house that is half underground, facing the southern sun featuring 14 rooms and amenities.

“The Smart Centre acts more like a landscape than a building, giving freedom to the visitors to create their own path to experience the indoors as well as the outdoors,” a release said.

The building is only partly enclosed by glass and concrete, creating an equal experience of indoor and outdoor space.

The project is set to be completed this year.