Dezeen Magazine

"Vertical school" in Melbourne named Future Project of the Year 2016

A proposal for a five-storey school in Melbourne has won the title Future of the Year 2016 at the World Architecture Festival.

Architecture firm Hayball describes South Melbourne Primary School as "Victoria's first vertical school". It will incorporate both education resources and community facilities.

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These will include an early learning centre, and indoor and outdoor multi-purpose sports courts.

Judges praised the project for "the connection between indoor and outdoor teaching areas and differentiated learning environments".

"The challenge of a vertical school has been turned into a by using the staircase as a point of interaction and a gathering space."

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The World Architecture Festival awards aim to showcase the best architecture of the last 12 months.

South Melbourne Primary School was selected ahead of 12 other category winners announced on day one and day two of the festival, including a shelter for women and children suffering domestic abuse and a series of beach huts built from recycled ocean plastic.

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Last year the Future Project of the Year award went to BIG for its 150-metre-high twisted skyscraper in Vancouver.

In an exclusive interview with Dezeen at the award ceremony, BIG partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann said the project will  transform a motorway flyover into a "wonderful civic space".

Dezeen is media partner for both the World Architecture Festival and Inside, which concluded today at the Arena Berlin, in Germany.