BIBA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION
LIDE ACADEMY WUHAN
LiDe Academy, an educational facility operated by Vanke, is a private bilingual school in Wuhan offering both the curriculum accredited by the China Education Committee (CEC) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. With 1,100 students across 46 classes from Early Years to Middle School, the project represents a prototype for compact, high-density educational architecture that integrates academic excellence, community openness, and sustainable urban living.
LOCATION Wuhan, China
AREA 32857 m²
STATUS Proposal
CLIENT Wuhan Yinglide Education Investment Co., Ltd.
YEAR 2017
PROGRAMS Educational, Architecture, Interior Design
Located on an extremely constrained site, the design adopts a series of spatial strategies to maximize both function and experience. The building footprint is optimized to preserve the ground level as an open learning landscape while relocating the running track and soccer field to the rooftop. Although all divisions share one overall structure, each is housed within a distinct yet interconnected block, ensuring independence among age groups and maintaining operational efficiency. Shared facilities such as the canteen, theater, gymnasium, swimming pools, and library are organized along the northern edge of the building for equal accessibility. Dedicated entrances facing the main street allow these facilities to open to the community after school hours, extending the building’s role beyond education and fostering a more inclusive and financially resilient campus model.
The architecture expresses clarity, lightness, and environmental awareness. The façade combines recyclable metal panels, bamboo screens, and glass curtain walls, creating a contemporary and approachable institutional character that stands apart from the surrounding residential fabric. Interior materials include rubber flooring, natural wood, and neutral finishes, accented by Chinese red and navy blue extracted from the school’s visual identity. Outdoor areas are designed with environmentally responsible materials such as bamboo decking, porous concrete, and sports-grade rubber. Planting selections consist entirely of non-toxic, native species to ensure safety and ecological compatibility. Landscaped rain gardens, botanical courtyards, and maze-like shrub zones function as outdoor classrooms, inviting students to engage directly with nature and seasonal change.
The architecture expresses clarity, lightness, and environmental awareness. The façade combines recyclable metal panels, bamboo screens, and glass curtain walls, creating a contemporary and approachable institutional character that stands apart from the surrounding residential fabric. Interior materials include rubber flooring, natural wood, and neutral finishes, accented by Chinese red and navy blue extracted from the school’s visual identity. Outdoor areas are designed with environmentally responsible materials such as bamboo decking, porous concrete, and sports-grade rubber. Planting selections consist entirely of non-toxic, native species to ensure safety and ecological compatibility. Landscaped rain gardens, botanical courtyards, and maze-like shrub zones function as outdoor classrooms, inviting students to engage directly with nature and seasonal change.
CHIEF DESIGNER
Xiaoyi Ma
DESIGN TEAM
Pengfei Chen, Chaoyi Meng, Jing Ping, Jing Wang, Jingrui Yang, Renzheng Zhu, Weihui Yan, Xuejiao Zhou, Yajing Kong, Yue Wu