Galei Yam Elementary School, 18 classrooms – Kiryat Yam

Datum Architects and Engineers won an architectural design competition announced by the municipality to design an innovative school in the Galei Yam neighborhood in Kiryat Yam.

The planned structure was composed of three different volumes of varying heights, similar to a child growing into an adult. In the morning, when the little child arrives at school, he enters through a low, unthreatening structure, with the tall mass hidden behind. The gradual shape in the height of the volumes allows the roof to be used as a courtyard, and allows maximum light and ventilation to enter all rooms. The two elongated volumes face north-south facades, thereby creating optimal passive energy conservation for the building.

The school's design expanded during the work to include a sports hall that is directly connected to the school but can also operate separately from it, during and after school hours. Interior design for the school's spaces was also planned.