The building is based on a planimetric layout organized around an open courtyard, composed of a compact single-story volume and two double-height volumes—one located at the entrance–inter-cycle hall node and the other at the cafeteria—which highlight their centrality and their role as the focal points of the entire design system.
The entrance, together with the internal courtyard and the inter-cycle classroom, forms the backbone of the system, united into a single potentially large space where the concepts of inside and outside are softened by the spatial and functional continuity created. The courtyard, open and facing the hillside, establishes a strong visual connection with it, emphasizing the natural character as the backdrop of the entire design concept.
Relative to this central spine, the classrooms are arranged linearly on the east side, as suggested by the school design guidelines, where the existing slope and a small embankment protect them from the road below. The service areas, including the cafeteria space, are located in the northern wing of the building and can also be accessed by external users via a dedicated external path.
The architectural strategy of orienting all multidisciplinary spaces, including circulation areas, towards the courtyard creates a strong connection between the interior spaces and the adjacent outdoor area. This outdoor space is designed as a learning environment that weaves through the fabric of the building itself, following the vision of an innovative pedagogy closely linked to the outdoors. Indeed, the courtyard is the heart of the system, functioning as a safe and protected garden where both playful activities—facilitated by specially designed furniture elements that characterize the space—and educational activities that engage with the surrounding environment can freely take place. The greenery and plants are therefore not merely decorative elements but devices aimed at enhancing student learning and growth. The school is no longer conceived simply as a space for education, but as a place for learning, where plants assume a central role within this innovative educational vision. Architecture itself becomes the implementing medium for this concept.
The greenery, consisting of linear planting elements—partly existing and partly newly introduced—and groups of trees and shrubs, envelops and characterizes the outdoor space adjacent to the new building. The selection of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, maintains continuity with the local species and reflects the specific functions that the outdoor areas are intended to serve. The entrance and recreational zones of the courtyard are marked by small trees and ornamental shrubs, imparting a sense of harmony and welcome. The edge facing the hillside is enriched with alternating trees and shrubs, creating a naturalistic mixed hedge effect. Finally, the existing row of conifers to the southeast is supplemented, particularly along the strip towards the existing gymnasium, with a variety of tree species that provide seasonal changes in color and form—an additional richness that also serves as a didactic tool fostering contact with nature.
The building’s overall volume is characterized by a palette of soft colors harmonizing with the landscape. The only accent color is the warm tone of the window frames, the roofing system, and the integrated solar shading system composed of canopies and blinds, specifically designed and positioned according to a dedicated solar study. The façade material will be a simple plaster, allowing for minimized construction and maintenance costs. The architectural value is therefore not sought in the use of distinctive, visually striking materials but in the volumetric composition and harmony of forms—an approach we believe to be appropriate when dealing with public buildings, where long-term maintainability is an essential consideration.
New elementary school
2nd PRIZE
Where: Borgo San Lorenzo, Firenze IT
Year: 2022
Render: Emme works
With: Marco Rinaldi