A school building for 200 primary school children (1st cycle of basic education) and 40 kindergarten-age children in Leça do Balio

Designing for the city
Located next to the existing school building for upper primary and secondary school education, the new building, which fronts the street, forms the entrance to both schools. A ramp leads to the existing school and organizes the outdoors movements of the older pupils, while two parallel blocks, whose dimensions are defined by the existing school, follow the slope and create recreation spaces of different types at diff-
erent levels. The covered terraces, entrance ramp, connecting body and exterior stairway create the interconnections between the built fabric and the outdoor spaces.

Modelling spaces with natural light
Adapting the building to the slope is accentuated by indentations in each block, which create two floor-to-ceiling heights: a lower one for the classrooms and a higher one for shared facilities such as the canteen, gym and library. In the classrooms, which face north, the neutral atmosphere is rendered more intimate by low windows overlooking the landscape. In the common areas, which are bathed in sunlight from the south and are a continuation of the recreation spaces in the interior, the ample spaces are consciously warm. Numerous skylights complete the indented effect in the roof, bringing sunlight from the south into the classrooms and their support spaces, and from the east into the circulation and service space. This use of the natural light to model the spaces, re-works the conventional, template for school building design “with the corridor in the middle”, with its repetitive rhythmic structure that is heightened by the use of openings that are always the same size.

Creating a space for undefined use
In contrast, the central space that houses the entrance and interconnects the two inner levels, allows for undefined uses thanks to the generosity of its dimensions. Outside, this connecting body expresses its ambiguity: now identifying with the entrance ramp, now being an extension of the covered playground. The openings are appropriate on all sides.

Conveying availability
Surfaces that evoke a sense of stone, such as concrete in several textures and colours and aggregate sand, blend with other surfaces with organic connotations, such as wood and cork, to heighten the building’s feeling of familiarity: solid, safe, available and open to all experiences.|

PROJECT NAME:
Escola de Leça do Balio Leça do Balio School

LOCATION:
Matosinhos, Portugal

PROJECT PHASES:
Design date: 2008
Completion date: 2010

DESIGN TEAM:
Architecture:
ANC arquitectos/Teresa Novais

Project Leader:
Luísa Meneses

Team:
João Pedro Fernandes, Pedro Loureiro, Ana Bacelar

TECHNICAL DESIGN AND BUILDING CONSULTANCY:
Structural Engineering:
Carlos Lino/Newton, Consultores de Engenharia Lda.

Electrical Engineering:
Fernando Aires/Gpic, Projectos, Instalações e Consultoria Lda.

Mechanical Engineering:
Raúl Bessa/Get, Gestão de Energia Térmica, Lda.

Hydraulic Installations:
Fernanda Valente/Newton, Consultores de Engenharia Lda.

Landscape Architecture:
Victor Beiramar Diniz

CONSULTANTS:
Energy Eficiency Consultancy:
Miguel Nery

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Norasil

SURFACE AREA:
2736.0 m2 (Building); 3757.0 m2 (Exteriors)

CONSTRUCTION COST (EXCL. TAXES):
€ 2,187,046.26

PHOTOGRAPHS:
Alberto Plácido, Luís Ferreira Alves