Khalid Bin Muhammed School
General Description
Khalid Bin Muhammed School, located in Sharjah's Al-Manakh neighborhood, is part of an educational cluster with two adjacent buildings. The two-story school consists of 24 classrooms, labs, a library, and a theater, with educational spaces organized around interconnected courtyards. Currently, the school serves as a venue for the Sharjah Art Foundation and hosts scholars from the Africa Institute. The renovation project aimed to adapt the building to its new program while preserving its architectural integrity. Classrooms were transformed into exhibition and workshop spaces, and minor changes were made to the façade to provide glimpses into the interior spaces without compromising the building's integrity.
Criteria
01
Embodies the distinctive aesthetic, physical, or architectural attributes characteristic of the political, social, and economic trends of a particular period.
02
Demonstrates a sustained environmental performance quantified in terms of material use, resource consumption and environmental impacts over the whole life cycle.
03
Contributes to the community’s sense of identity and enrichment of the UAE’s diversity, or is recognized as a place of collective memory for the UAE.
Statement of Significance
Khalid Bin Muhammed School exemplifies the UAE's commitment to education and civic projects. Following a common typology found in numerous schools across the country, the building showcases a thoughtful response to the UAE's climate and the well-being of students and teachers. With modular classrooms surrounding interconnected courtyards, the design promotes natural ventilation and a pleasant environment. These schools, including Khalid Bin Muhammed School, hold significance in the collective memory and identity of Sharjah, and while they are no longer in use as schools, they have the potential to host new cultural and educational institutions.