BIBA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING
The renovation of the International School of Beijing (ISB) Community Center redefines the main entrance as a multifunctional hub that integrates reception, informal gatherings, art exhibitions, a theater foyer, and a café. The project enhances spatial coherence and flexibility while strengthening the school’s visual identity and community character.
LOCATION Beijing, China
AREA 14790 m²
STATUS Completed
CLIENT International School of Beijing
YEAR 2024
PROGRAMS Education, Interior Design
As the primary gateway to the ISB campus, the Community Center plays both a representational and connective role. The design adopts ISB’s corporate blue as the dominant tone, maintaining visual continuity with the school’s established identity. To accommodate the theater foyer’s welcoming and dynamic atmosphere, red—another key tone from ISB’s visual system—is introduced as an accent color, balancing formality with warmth and energy.
The central stepped platform serves as the main spatial and visual focus. Designed for assemblies, performances, and daily informal use, it encourages flexibility and spontaneous social interaction. A large green planting area is embedded within the steps, introducing a biophilic gesture that connects users with nature and visually softens the architectural geometry. This integration of natural elements expresses the school’s commitment to well-being and sustainability, while also enriching the sensory experience of the interior.
A second focal element is the 20-meter-long continuous counter that extends through the space. Its rhythmic variation in height and width not only accommodates diverse functions—such as the café counter, reception desk, and casual seating—but also evokes an abstract interpretation of the dragon motif from the ISB emblem. This subtle reference transforms the brand symbol into a spatial and tactile experience, merging identity with function.
Ultimately, the renovation transforms the ISB Community Center into a multi-sensory civic interior—a place where identity, functionality, and community engagement converge. Through the calibrated use of color, material, and form, the project translates institutional values into spatial experience, creating a setting that is both emblematic and inclusive, formal yet approachable.
CHIEF DESIGNER
Xiaoyi Ma
DESIGN TEAM
Jing Zhu, Pengfei Chen, Jiajia Wang