Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Brick as a stabilizing element
19/11/2017.
[Sintra] Portugal
metalocus, PABLO SEBASTIÁN
metalocus, PABLO SEBASTIÁN
The crisis was the main design tool in this project. Initially thought of as a large extension, the need to reduce intervention, with the arrival of the crisis, caused the client to request a rehabilitation of the existing buildings.
Exterior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Exterior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Exterior. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Facade. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Facade. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Exterior detail. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Exterior detail. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Interior view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Courtyard view. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro. Photograph © Pedro Pacheco
Ground floor plan. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro.
First floor and North elevation. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro.
Second floor and seccion plan. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro.
Seccions plan. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro.
Phases, collage. Colegio Dos Platanos by murmuro.
The new building designed by murmuro is the remodeling of a previous one. The new building serves as a point of connection and articulation; connects the different buildings of the east and articulates the levels of the patio in the south exterior, the sports area to the north and the outdoor covered area to the east.
Once again, the client's request helped in the design, by requesting the use of natural ventilation as a condition, as well as the protection of the openings to the north, given the proximity to the sports area.
Once again, the client's request helped in the design, by requesting the use of natural ventilation as a condition, as well as the protection of the openings to the north, given the proximity to the sports area.
Description of project by murmuro
Colégio dos Plátanos is a school in Sintra which educates children from the age of 3 to 14; the project consists of the expansion and reorganization of the school. Having acquired a set of low quality buildings east of the existing school, the client intended to demolish them and expand the school complex eastwards, adding a series of new classrooms, complementary spaces and sport facilities.
During the design phase the client changed course and decided to maintain the east buildings and commissioned a new construction of smaller scale, connecting the east and west buildings, the construction had to occur in two phases, allowing for a reduced investment as our country was facing an economic crisis. This decision also required the development of an intermediate structural solution and controlled demolitions in order not to interrupt the daily school operation; only with the conclusion of the second phase would the entire complex be fully articulated.
The new building is simultaneously a connection and articulation point; connects the east and west buildings and articulates the levels of the south outdoor courtyard, the sports area to the north and the covered outdoor area to the east.
The client set the use of natural ventilation as a requisite, as well as the protection of the northern openings, given the proximity to the sports area. We chose to create a permeable brick facade that allows air to flow for the natural ventilation of the building, illuminates the northern rooms, protects the windows and hides the necessary ventilation grids. To the south exterior shading slabs and interior screens were used in order to control the light intensity in the classrooms.
The concern with materiality is also foreseen inside the building; the preschool classrooms are covered in cheerful, bright colored panels. The walls are also coated with a material that simultaneously allows acoustic conditioning and the display of the children’s works, in an attempt to enhance the appropriation of the space. The outside spaces will be designed later on.
More information
Dates
2010 – 2017
Area
1,850 m²
Team
João Caldas, Rita Breda, Tiago Araújo, Pedro Rodrigues, Francisco Calheiros (architecture); Inês Oliveira (design); TDP Engenharia (engeneering)
João Caldas, Rita Breda, murmuro
murmuro is an architecture practice based in Porto, founded by João Caldas and Rita Breda. They are a highly dedicated team that thrives on collaboration. Their multidisciplinary work process is not a mean to reach a fast consensus but rather an opportunity for dialogue, to exchange information looking to what was at first hidden in order to expand the project brief in search of the optimal solution.
They have also felt the need to explore other means of production as processes of the investigation and critical thinking and that is where curatorial research comes in. Curatorial work or interdisciplinary practices understood not as failed (architecture) or utopias, not even as side disciplinary practice but rather as opportunities to explore, to act on, and therefore as source of information that will later enrich future projects.
Team.- João Caldas, Rita Breda, Pedro Rodrigues, Luís Soares
Tiago Araújo, Nuno Vasconcelos, Pedro Gama, João Castelões, Francisco Pereira, Francisco Calheiros
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