- UCCELLON PER MARTA1_b(2)
- uccellomarta2_b_cut
- open_b(1)
- media_closed_b
- omo(1)
- yin-yang
- Jin e Jang-Model
- base underconsruction_02_a
- a
- Lonate_plano
- Lonate_SEZTRASV
- Lonate_SEZ200
Harmonizing Education and Environment: Innovative Architectural Solutions for Integrated Schooling
Lot Occupation Strategy
The initial decision to occupy the majority of the available area for the project aims to achieve several key objectives:
- To accommodate all required volume on a single level to ensure complete accessibility without the need for elevators or ramps. This logic extends to the organization of exterior spaces, with a hierarchy between vehicular areas, cycle lanes, and pedestrian zones.
- To maintain the openness of outdoor spaces dedicated to the school, which is an integral and inseparable part of the project, to maximize the use of green spaces.
- To facilitate evacuation in case of emergency, as the open spaces planned in the project serve as safe areas and are easily accessible due to the planning on a single level.
- To simplify anti-seismic solutions with compact volumes on one level, primarily arranged along the XY axes with minimal verticality.
Yin and Yang Approach
Building upon these premises, the project combines open and enclosed spaces of both schools within a single fenced area but distinctly differentiates between primary and secondary schools in space and usage. Similar to the philosophy of Yin and Yang, they are configured as complementary opposites, separated yet united by a functional strip – including entrances, conference halls, and cafeterias – serving both schools.
The primary school is conceived as a flexible and unitary space, with large courtyards delineating its structure. Conversely, in the secondary school, the open spaces of the courtyards become classrooms, forming a sort of solid generated by the void of the primary school. This difference is not only formal but also reflects the idea of controlling and protecting younger students in the primary school, while encouraging greater autonomy and responsibility in the secondary school.
Close-Up on Individual Spaces
The project is divided into distinct bands, with areas dedicated to secondary and primary schools, separated by support facilities with access from both sides. The primary school is a single flexible space, while the secondary school consists of individual classrooms immersed in greenery. The goal is to create a new concept of educational space that transcends traditional barriers between teachers and students, promoting a pleasant environment where new technologies integrate with nature.
Specific Solutions
- Natural Well-being: Material choices and design aim to integrate nature into the environment, either by immersing within it (as in the secondary school) or by incorporating it into the space (as in the primary school).
- Materials: The chosen materials favor integration with nature, with internal floors similar to external ones to suggest continuity and the use of glass to visually connect the interior with the exterior.
- Technological and Energy Choices: The use of greenery is favored for natural ventilation and heating, with rainwater harvesting systems and the use of renewable energy. Each classroom will be equipped with advanced technologies but integrated into the surrounding nature.
Out-of-Hours Usage
The project allows flexible use of the structure outside of school hours, with the potential to host events and community activities, thus contributing to the management and maintenance of the school itself.
Design Team
Elio Ravà, Baires Raffaelli, Vittorio Magliozzi, Paolo Moressoni, Naima Manfrè,
City
Lonate Ceppino (Varese)
Year
2016
Client
Competition – The Good School