2024-08-27

Mörrum school wins urban development award

Mörrum's new school has been awarded Karlshamn municipality's urban design prize. According to the jury, the design is playful and well thought-out and promotes learning. The school was also 10 million cheaper than budgeted.

Mörrums skola is a primary school for grades F-6 with room for 630 pupils. The school is permeated by the children's perspective - from the design of the physical environment to influence, participation and follow-up feedback.

The architects at FOJAB have been involved from the initial idea stage to the finished building, interior and outdoor environment. Being involved early in the process is an important success factor, says Charlotte Kristensson, the architect in charge. She also emphasizes the close cooperation with officials, educators and the students themselves. The schoolyard, for example, is designed according to the children's wishes. Over the course of a whole semester, the pupils worked out their thoughts and ideas for the "Dream Schoolyard of the Future".

- Mörrum's school is the jewel in the crown, one of the finest school projects we have completed. It has been possible thanks to cooperation and participation from start to finish, smart sustainability solutions and a design that contributes to the children's learning, says Charlotte Kristensson at FOJAB.

To bring the large school building more in line with the children's scale, the large building volume has been broken down into smaller interconnected two-storey buildings. They are simple and clean in expression, like small red monopoly houses. The school environment is rich in experiences with a palette of different kinds of rooms in different sizes that meet different educational needs.

The square meters are used to the maximum. For example, there are no corridors, almost everything is a learning environment. The school also came in 10 million cheaper than the 230 million budgeted - and on schedule.

The jury's motivation reads:

"Through preserved trees, broken volumes, staggered gables and consistent use of the red color, the building shows that a large and modern building can be built in a small-scale environment with respect for both its surroundings and for the children who need a safe home.

Based on Blekinge's building tradition, the new school in Mörrum has been given a playful and well-thought-out design both inside, in terms of volume and in the outdoor environments. Together, this creates an inspiring teaching environment that promotes the learning of today and future generations."

How do you succeed in building a school? Find out more about the recipe for success behind Mörrum school and FOJAB's concept for knowledge environments.