Andra Neamtu

Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

Theme

Award winning

AJ Student Award 2026

email: [email protected]

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The School of Wonders is designed as an architectural journey of growth, carefully guiding pupils through the three foundational milestones of primary education. Located in Southeast Faversham, a proposed extension of the existing town, the masterplan was inspired by a walk through its historic streets. The design directly responds to the striking visual contrastzbetween Faversham’s timber-framed structures and its vibrant facades, creating a deliberate dialogue between single-material volumes and rich, multi-material surfaces. 

Conceived as a “miniature Faversham”, the site is organized into distinct sectors. Each zone features its own specific tower, unique planning logic, and tailored facade aesthetic. At the literal heart of this masterplan, where the aesthetics of thesurrounding sectors collide, sits the school. Its circular form is bisected by the main road and integrated with civic space, creating an energetic central hub that physically pulls the surrounding neighborhood towards it. 

Positioning the school centrally establishes education as the primary pillar of the community. Drawing inspiration from Aldo Rossi, the central sector’s tower serves as a public library with an independent entrance. Rossi’s theater steps are also integrated to mimic an Italian plaza, allowing the school to function as a “small city” where the plaza and public gallery act as the civic heart. 

Whimsically influenced by Alice in Wonderland, the design plays with spatial distortion to make pupils feel empowered. “Rabbit holes”, stepped circular outdoor seating, and small-scale gates allow only children to pass through specific thresholds. To visualize this journey, the school is split into three distinct, color-coded buildings: Reception (small/Yellow), Key Stage 1 (medium/Blue), and Key Stage 2 (large/Pink). Ultimately, this school is a living story where architecture documents a pupil’s evolution. 

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The School of Wonders
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Exterior view of the school playground illustrating the atmosphere of the space, the character of the façade, and the site’s playful elements of distortion. These interventions not only manipulate pupils’ perception of scale by making them feel larger or smaller, but also provide functional features such as shading, play structures, and climbing sculptures.
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Axonometric representation of the site, highlighting the school's egg-shaped form, the adjacent commercial program, and the main road that divides the development.
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Master plan illustrating the school's central position within the extension and how each sector is derived from different plan typologies.
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treet view illustrating the three building typologies across the site and their gradual increase in scale. The miniature gateways designed for pupils introduce a playful sense of distortion inspired by Alice in Wonderland, encouraging children to experience the environment from an altered perspective and feel larger within the space.
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Interior view of the classroom illustrating how the external atmosphere and architectural language continue into the interior, creating a seamless transition between the outside environment and the learning space.
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Sectional 1:20 model of the Key Stage 2 building illustrating the relationship between the glazed terracotta panels, featuring Alice in Wonderland-inspired illustrations, and the charred timber cladding. Together, these materials create a narrative journey, transporting pupils through a fairytale-like environment.
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