In April 2016 anySCALE was asked to do the interior design for X School. Located in Houshyu, a new urban area in outer Shunyi, this afterschool is designed to help children improve their English language and social skills in order to prepare them for living and studying abroad. The X School outlook is that learning, in order to be effective, should be fun. Children are encouraged to learn independence, leadership skills and character development through play and project-based tasks.
With this in mind anySCALE wanted to create an environment that makes each child feel unique from when they first step foot into the building. Spirits should be lifted when entering the afterschool, with glimpses of colourful and fun environments crating anticipation. The bold blue of the entrance floor and column draws you in and over the threshold. On either side of the entrance the walls are lined with mirrors. A sea of small LED lights hang from the ceiling, creating an eye-catching, sparkling first impression. Directly in front is the multi-purpose workshop, a large, open space which can be used for play, work and display of installations. To the right is a library and play corner which comes fully equipped with a slide. There are four enclosed classrooms, two phone booths, a meeting booth and a pantry with an additional open class room, all providing different environments for different tasks. The booths are smaller, enclosed spaces facing away from the central open space to promote quiet and concentration. The classrooms, on the other hand, face into the open spaces with floor to ceiling glazing (some areas covered in frosted film), to promote a feeling of inclusion and connection. All the interior materials are non-toxic, with a focus on wood surfaces combined with splashes of colour. The floor is laid in two tones, natural and dark wood, forming large geometric shapes independent of the layouts of the rooms. These neutral colours contrast well with the green, orange, yellow and different shades of blue found on the movable furniture and cushions.
