Academic replacement building

Irpin University, Ukraine

Commended entry in the international design competition for this project

Hope, Grace, and Resilience: A Campus Rooted in Nature, Sustainability, Inclusivity

Guided by Banksy’s mural of a young gymnast, the project embodies hope, grace, and resilience — a reflection of the university’s enduring spirit.

Inspired by Irpin’s forests, our design envisions a canopy of slender tree-like columns supporting a branching frame that shelters a village of program defined forms. A linear office bar anchors this composition, linking to campus buildings.

The structure employs a Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) post-and-plate system, enabling adaptable interior layouts. CLT’s fire resistance, acoustic benefits, and carbon sequestration align with the project’s net-zero goals.

An accessible green roof merges with the landscape, integrating solar panels for renewable energy. Glazed facades are shaded to manage solar gain, in line with the project’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.