An Analysis of Spatial Restructuring Trends for Future Schools– Focusing on Cases of School Facility Complexation -

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) The continuous decline in the school-age population due to low birth rates necessitates a structural transformation of educational facilities. In response, the Ministry of Education introduced new elements such as personalized education, a sense of community, and local community linkage through the 2022 revised curriculum. Simultaneously, educational spaces have secured flexibility through the 'School Space Restructuring' project, a school-level spatial innovation initiative. This has also expanded the role of schools as venues for lifelong education that connect with local communities through school facility complex competitions. School facility complexes are emerging as a promising alternative for the spatial utilization of future schools. Accordingly, this study aims to provide foundational data for future school facility complex planning. (Method) First, the background, necessity, and implications of school facility complexes were derived through literature review. Second, trends in the 'School Complex Facility Competition Project' since 2023 were analyzed to understand the composition of school complex facilities to be supplied in the near future. Third, eight school complex facilities that were substantially completed within the past five years were analyzed from an architectural planning perspective. Since most cases from this period were located in Gyeonggi Province, the analysis limited the scope. (Results) Analysis of 87 selected cases from a public contest revealed that lifelong education and childcare facilities each showed the highest frequency with 63 cases (72.41%), while libraries showed the lowest frequency with 25 cases (28.7%). Notably, childcare facilities were always combined with other functions, which is influenced by the policy incentive of 10% additional funding support when installing childcare facilities. Analysis of eight recently completed cases confirmed differentiated spatial connection strategies by school level. Elementary schools adopted separate layouts prioritizing safety, whereas bridge-connected types prioritizing efficiency were only found in middle and high schools, where active student use was observed through connections to gymnasiums on corresponding floors. All cases secured necessary facilities and specialized programs through 'Other' categories. Multi-level planning with underground spaces was attempted, securing a minimum area of 750㎡ per floor while efficiently resolving circulation flows. Curriculum integration occurred in various forms through MOUs between schools and complex facilities, though some schools showed insufficient integration. (Conclusions) From a planning perspective, differentiated spatial connection strategies by school level existed, and multi-level space utilization emerged as an important planning strategy. However, some cases revealed issues with curriculum integration or circulation planning, highlighting the need for close cooperation among stakeholders from the early planning stage. Furthermore, considering the planning trends for each school level and the combining of multiple uses in most cases, it is expected that school complex facilities to be supplied in the near future will develop into multi-functional complexes that reflect the characteristics of each school level.