The interpretation of the building's original architecture and the different mutations that occurred over its lifetime was necessarily the starting point for defining a line of conduct for the intervention. In general, this goes through the redefinition of the center of the built complex, demolishing the transverse body located there, dispensable in the reading of the pre-existing. The project redesigns this strategic nucleus on the ground, decisive in the coherence of the whole by the way in which it establishes the articulation between the "old" and the "new". From here, a new unitary set is reconstructed, in which the renewed image of the school is sought to be balanced, capable of preserving the integrity of the architectural identity of the primary building set.

 

From the pre-existing set, the two volumes implanted along the North and South limits of the land, connected to the West by a ground gallery, remain. Away from this main nucleus, located at the east end of the building, is the block formerly occupied by the technical workshops, which is also preserved, as well as the most recent body of the covered swimming pool and complementary spaces that remain without any significant alteration.

 

The new central block, laid out transversally, establishes a formal relationship with the two patios that become part of the complex: the first between the two existing main blocks, adjacent to the new living space, and the second that will continue to be part of a playground. uncovered. The latter is also delimited by two new volumes: the gymnasium to the north, lowered inside and articulated with the courtyard through a bench, and the administrative body to the South, which establishes a connection between the original main nucleus and the now renovated one. body of the technical workshops which, in addition, will integrate the laboratories.

 

Functionally, the main entrance is repositioned in a more central location to the built complex, thus adjusting a better articulation of the circulations and directly appropriating the different common spaces.

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Location. Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal

Date. 2007 | 2010

Architecture. José Gigante, João Gomes

Collaboration.M. Fernado Santos, Ana Pedrosa, Cristina Fernandes, José Almeida, Ângelo Lopes and André Gigante

Photography. Luís Ferreira Alves

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