COOP HIMMELB(L)AU, High School #9

The school campus designed by Wolf D. Prix of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU includes seven buildings: a theatre, a library, a cafeteria and four buildings of classrooms, one for each discipline in the arts: the visual arts, the performing arts, music and dance.

The architects used strong architectural signs as symbols conveying the school?s commitment to the community; the school was built as part of a state bond funded plan to provide the Los Angeles Unified School District with 155 new schools by 2012.

The tower rising above the theatre hosts events and exhibitions and provides the city with both a visible landmark and a viewpoint.
The library, home of knowledge, is shaped like a truncated cone in middle of the courtyard. The building?s strong slant creates a big space on the inside lit up from above by a circular skylight, while creating an "exception" to the external layout of the buildings which adds dynamism to the different views of the complex and helps determine pedestrian routes through the area.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Design: Coop Himmelb(l)au, Wolf D.Prix / W.Dreibholz & Partners ZT GmbH
Location:  Los Angeles, USA
Illustrations: Duccio Malagamba, courtesy of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU

www.coop-himmelblau.at