abalo alonso arquitectos has designed a children's school on the edge of the urban centre of the municipality of A Estrada, in Pontevedra. Built entirely in wood, the school is organized in three longitudinal strips that accommodate the different needs of the program.
The project by abalo alonso arquitectos clearly organises the different functions of the building: the north strip houses the administration and services, classrooms are located in the south and, in the central body, the multipurpose room and general distributor.

In the central body, partitions have been dispensed with, using a set of roofs that qualifies the different spaces while favouring natural lighting and ventilation. From the outside, the generated contour resembles a succession of small houses.

The school has been built with load-bearing walls of cross-laminated spruce, isolated in facades and cladded towards the inside with pine board treated in autoclave. 
 

Description of project by abalo alonso arquitectos

The school is located on the edge of the town centre, where it is already confused with the countryside. And with the collective memory, even still physical, of the old nearby industrial facilities present. A series of volumes, almost infantile, come together like little houses of some of the "rueiros" that follow one another a little further on. And in the land of carpenters, what, if not wood, could be our school made of? 

The functional scheme is very simple. Three longitudinal bands reflect the needs of the program. To the north, administration and services; to the south the classrooms and, in the centre, the multipurpose room and general distributor of the building. 

The main access is from the east façade, the only one in contact with the street. Along the north façade a service route is proposed, for the entrance of personnel, supplies and maintenance of installations.

The central body, although lacking partitions, is spatially modulated by a set of roofs and skylights that animate and qualify the space; they nuance the acoustic impact and favour the entry of natural light and ventilation. This spatial qualification, without being drastic, allows us to visually differentiate successive areas and, consequently, use them at different times of the day or for different activities. 

The southern strip contains the classrooms. Sensitively square-shaped, with a side to side part for playing, another one of hygiene and another one of resting. The hygiene area, on the façade, allows us to enjoy control, light and natural ventilation. The resting area, towards the interior, facilitates uses related to audiovisuals or, simply, to structure the classroom in different areas. 

Structural system of load-bearing walls of cross-laminated fir, isolated in facades and cladded with pine board treated in autoclave finished with lasur. Double-deck roof on laminated wood straps, insulation and zinc. Wooden joinery; plasterboard panelling and partitions and industrialised flooring.

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Architects
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abalo alonso arquitectos. Elizabeth Abalo, Gonzalo Alonso, Francisco González.
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Design team
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Luis Adrán, architect
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Collaborators
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Constructor management.- abalo alonso arquitectos. Elizabeth Abalo, Gonzalo Alonso. Quantity Surveyor.- Francisco González Varela. Calculation of structures.- Maderas Besteiro. Adolfo Montero. Calculation of amenities.- Gaia Enxeñería. Lighting consultancy.- Spotlux. Manuel Carazo. Wood consultancy.- Cis Madeira. Manuel Touza, Azahara Sólan. Site Construction Manager.- Cándido López Blanco. Construction foreman.- José Manuel Luna.
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Developer
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Concello de A Estrada. Consorcio Galego de Servizos de Igualdade e Benestar

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Builder
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Ute Petrolam Construcciones Galasur.


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Area
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Built area.- 767.50 m²
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Budget
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€ 777,504.86
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Recognitions
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1st prize design competition 2016. GdA 2018 Award, Coag Vigo. Luces de Arquitectura Award, Arquitectura con Eñe, Ifema Coam, Madrid 2018. Mention Premio Ventana, Arquitectura con Eñe, Ifema Coam, Madrid 2018. Finalist XVIII Premios Coag, Ferrol 2019. Selected Fad Awards, Barcelona 2019
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Manufacturers
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Wooden structure.- Egoin. Ornamental lighting.- Arturo Álvarez
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Dates
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Drafting of project.- Competition 11.12.2015, award 08.03.2016, basic project 25.04.2016, execution project 26.07.2016. End of construction.- 10.07.2018
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Venue
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Benito Vigo 106. 36680 A Estrada. Pontevedra. Spain. 42.687950, -8.483596
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Photography
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Santos Diez / Bisimages.
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Abalo Alonso Arquitectos was founded in 1997 in Santiago de Compostela by Elizabeth Abalo and Gonzalo Alonso, both graduates of the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Navarra.

Since its creation, the studio has developed projects in various fields, including urban planning, public space, public buildings and housing. Among its most notable works is the headquarters of the University of Vigo in the Berbés neighbourhood, known as the Redeiras building, which has been selected to represent Spain at the 19th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025.

Elizabeth Abalo Díaz. Architect from the ETSA University of Navarra (1996), she completed the master's degree in rehabilitation at the Consorcio de Santiago (1999), the Advanced Course in Urban Planning at the EGAP (2001) and the doctoral courses at the UDC (2001). In 2011 and 2012 she was an associate professor in the master's degree in Health and Assistance Architecture, at UDC and an associate professor in 2019 at CESUGA University College.

Gonzalo Alonso Núñez. Architect from the ETSA University of Navarra (1997), she completed the master's degree in rehabilitation at the Consorcio de Santiago (1999) and the doctoral courses at the UDC (001). From 2008 until 2001 he became the tutor of the PFC CESUGA University College Dublin. In 2011 and 2012 he was an associate professor in the Master of Health and Care Architecture, at UDC, between 2017 and 2019 he was an assistant professor at CESUGA University College and an associate professor at the University of Virginia.
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Published on: June 14, 2019
Cite: "A school with infinite spaces. A Baiuca Nursery School by abalo alonso arquitectos" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/a-school-infinite-spaces-a-baiuca-nursery-school-abalo-alonso-arquitectos> ISSN 1139-6415
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