Expansion of Sant Jordi School

GATPA (4)
GATPA
Alex Gallego Urbano
David Tapias Monné
Gerard Puig Freixas
Jordi Adell

Solar school in Vilanova i la Geltrú How can we build a learning environment that transforms a terrain vague, with the wrong orientation for a school, into well-tempered-and-lighted interiors? The commission is to add six classrooms, a dining room and a library to the existing Sant Jordi school, designed in the mid seventies by MBM (Martorell Bohigas Mackay).

View gallery

Our goal was to design an indoors and outdoors learning space that provides engaging experiences for the little learners that populate it. Corridors become playgrounds and patios are sheltered by porches and a light and high pergola, that unites the new and existing constructions, a shade for the kids playground, and a protection net for the football pitch.

There was a design scheme made by the Catalan Departament d’Ensenyament that had to be followed. As it had some basic design mistakes which we were not allowed to change, we had to come up with a ‘solar building’, with an outer porous skin that brought optimal light and climatic conditions to the inside. As the existing school is a Protected Architectural Landmark, we were suggested by the clients to use the same kind of materials.

José Hevia

They were produced forty years ago, they are not available anymore. So we just decided to use whichever available systems and materials at hand. For still in 2014, material stock was an issue after the country's economic downfall. A hard, bare CMU block façade, which creates these conditions by very simple variations, creating patios, porches, galleries and privacy veils.

GATPA

This climatic cushion not only negotiates with sun’s rays, but also with all kinds of atmospheric variations, so children can realise they all become good weather. The school becomes the first porous passive structure built in Catalonia. It is based not in energy conservation, but in wise intercourse.

José Hevia

General information

Expansion of Sant Jordi School

YEAR

2015

Status

Built

Option to visit

Visit from public roads

Address

St. de la Mare Isabel Ventosa, 10

08800 Vilanova i la Geltru - Barcelona

Latitude: 41.227264583

Longitude: 1.7321527283

Classification

Building materials

Concrete

Brick

Wood

Construction system

Prefabricated concrete; Concrete block, OSB, Reclaimable caisson

Built area

501 - 5000 m²

Awards

ACUE 2017

Involved architects

Alex Gallego Urbano

David Tapias Monné

Gerard Puig Freixas

Jordi Adell

Collaborators

Carlos Gonzalvo (architect)

Ricard Pau (architect)

Julia Nabona (architect)

Involved architectural firms

GATPA

Information provided by

GATPA

EUMies Award

Website links

EUMies Award

arrow_forwardGo to the Encyclopedia
  • José Hevia
  • GATPA
add

Location

41.227264583 1.7321527283 863152c3-9a75-41ec-8245-85987f328a9b Built
Click to activate the map
Built
Temporary
Lost
Unbuilt project

Cookies policy

GNOSS usa cookies, propias y de terceros, con finalidad principalmente técnica y necesaria para prestación de nuestros servicios y mostrarles contenido relevante. Más información en nuestra  política de cookies .

ACEPTA para confirmar que has leído la información y aceptado su instalación. Puedes modificar la configuración de tu navegador.