Danish architecture firm CEBRA was posed with an interesting challenge when building Aabybro School in Aabybro, Denmark. The municipality commissioned a new school, but due to physical limitations, it could only allow the school to be built on two adjacent plots, forcing the architects to create two separate buildings. As a solution, CEBRA connected the buildings through the use of aesthetics.
Each of the two school buildings that make up Aabybro School are covered by pitched roofs, a design element that is common around the town of Aabybro as a whole. However, the two school buildings' pitched roofs are unique in that their jagged north- and south-facing edges, respectively, would fit perfectly with one another if they were to be aligned.
The resultant aesthetic effect is one of apparent shearing, as if some massive seismic activity separated two buildings that were once one.
Sheared Multi-Site Schools
Aabybro School Was Cut in Half and Placed at Two Adjacent Sites
Trend Themes
1. Connected Multi-site Buildings - Architecture firms can create visually unique multi-site buildings by connecting them through aesthetics.
2. Distinctive Design Elements - Distinctive design elements such as jagged roofs can be used to create a cohesive look between multi-site buildings.
3. Innovative Aesthetic Solutions - Innovative aesthetic solutions can be used to solve physical challenges of building on multiple plots without compromising the design.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architecture firms can capitalize on the opportunity to design multi-site buildings with innovative aesthetics.
2. Education - There is an opportunity for educational institutions to create distinctive multi-site buildings that enhance the overall aesthetic of the campus or district.
3. Real Estate Development - Real estate developers can embrace innovative aesthetic solutions to maximize the potential of building on multiple plots.