Flexibility of Containment

Working within the boundaries of the existing Sawtooth shed the Kindergarten design explores repurposing of space and materials through the integration and alteration of shipping containers. By organizing and distributing shipping containers both horizontally and vertically a new set of spatial rules are created. The horizontal direction defines the school’s first floor program and forms orthogonal boundaries for four learning spaces along a major grid. The vertical direction supplies circulation and encourages the transition into the fluid and softer interstitial spaces on the second floor. While students are in classrooms, the shipping containers are transformable and serve as study libraries and faculty offices. During recess and free playtime, containers provide circulation hallways and storage with easily accessible movable furniture and equipment. The materiality of the project is divided between the earthly metals and bright paints, which simultaneously illuminate a kindergarten nature within the confines of the containers. Meanwhile, the original aesthetic of the Sawtooth building within an industrially prominent site is celebrated.