The urban landscape is characterised by a city centre within an urban valley bottom flanked by vegetated hillsides. The project site is located on a steeply sloping woodland hillside. The site’s varied topography and microclimate and the extensive woodland contribute to a diverse environment that is important to habitats locally and to the city wide green network.

The setting of the ballet school within the wooded hillside is inspired by scenes from John Cranko’s famous ballet ‘Onegin’ and the concept of ballet as theatre which is at the core of his approach as a choreographer. The setting for the foyer is a lush landscape space that includes outdoor performance places in a woodland setting, nestled in the sloping backdrop of the wooded hillside.

The foyer and levels to the auditorium and bar are designed as interval landscapes. A roof terrace sky garden enclosed by the accommodation is a walled garden and a protected space for the school community to socialise and relax.

Client: John Cranko Schule
Architect: Brisac Gonzalez