Les Aimerigues High School.
Competition 1st PRIZE

The new Institute is located on a plot on the edge of the housing fabric in the Aimerigues sector, on the threshold of future city growth and an area of ​​large parks limited by Carrer de Icària.

The implantation is defined from the location of the building volumes within the plot: a compact volume aligned in the consolidated street of Pablo Iglesias and a smaller volume that contains the gymnasium and that defines the access through the public space and the porch .

The typological model proposed is compact with a bright and generous central corridor, with classrooms on both sides. An economical, compact, flexible and efficient volume:

Economic, due to its constructive simplicity and the tight square meters built in relation to the requested program of needs.

Compact, in that it occupies less space and frees games space with coherent measures for leisure activities, without residual spaces, facilitating control of the exterior space and allowing easy expansion.

Flexible, teaching programs have an important mutability and, increasingly, the operation of the center requires great flexibility to be able to accommodate different uses over time. Independent accesses are guaranteed, without having to enter the center, for the gym, the library, the AMPA, and the outdoor toilets.

Efficient, compactness helps minimize energy losses; Optimal clearance and dry build are passive systems that help reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

Reduction of the ecological footprint: use of non-polluting, durable and easily recyclable materials; use of renewable energies; control systems, waste management and use of BIM technology in the project and construction process.

The classrooms are arranged in the volume aligned to Pablo Iglesias street, formalizing one of the center’s fences without generating residual spaces. The gym is arranged facing the street of Icaria, accompanying the access, with a first wooded space that will be used for bicycle parking. Between the two volumes a south-facing porch is generated, through which the institute and the gymnasium are accessed.

Regarding the materials used, the use of ceramic on the façade with various types of rigging is used to generate different textures, referring to the city’s industrial architecture tradition.

The rest of the closures are made of glass, cellular polycarbonate and copperized pine cladding in some areas of the ground floor. Sun protection is based on adjustable ceramic slats that prevent direct radiation, but allow diffuse light to enter. Its height is adjusted to avoid direct sun but allow views to the outside.

Awards:

2021. XV BEAU. Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial. Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo Finalist Finalista
2019. XV Ceramic Awards Hispalyt. Premios Cerámica Hispalyt. Special Honour Mencion especial obra no residencial
2018. Catalan Architecture Sample. Muestra de Arquitectura Catalana