- Area: 796 m²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Pedro Vannucchi
Text description provided by the architects. The Project brief determined that the time allotted to finish the building should guide the design concept: the schedule was 150 days to build a 790m2 school.
Thus build-ability and construction logistics which are usually analysed in a basic later phase had to be taken into account from the very first studies.
The architectural design concept was anchored on simultaneous building plans: the concrete structure that would span longer voids (11 x 8 meters) and hold the sports courts on the top floor. The top slab was to be supported by metal profiles and since there was no time to wait for the concrete slab to set in place, we used a pre-formed slab.
Finally, a wooden structure would line the inside, shaping the bulk of the building itself.
After the concrete structure and the pre-formed slab were in place, two different work plans were carried out. On one hand, setting up the wooden structure which would shape the classrooms, patios, library and on the other hand laying the top cover over the concrete slab. As these two systems were being completed in parallel, precious time was saved.
From then on, work progressed fast and efficiently. The materials used for that phase of the building were all pre-manufactured: cement plates, melanin laminated panels (TS) and dry walls. In other words, a dry building process was used.
Using pre-cut wood to build the main body of the building was of the essence to reach our goals. Wooden structures demand “to the inch” precision to be properly installed. It had to fit the concrete voids and there was no time for further measurements. That constraint was the guiding principle for the whole work. In other words, the use of wood determined the overall character of the building, adding to the agility of the work and to financial resources and time savings.
Also, beyond any other constructive considerations, wood by itself adds visual beauty and tactile comfort to the space. The good use of natural resources evokes the idea of nature preservation and environment. These are important values to a school that intends to have an extremely practical, and at the same time agreeable pedagogical space that enhances communications between the students, the environment and the learning experience.
