To build over the built environment is a challenge that architects have always faced, and which is increasingly present in new architecture. Nowadays building or heritage rehabilitation, renovation and restoration are a fundamental field of work for our profession.
Architecture is always built over something that exists; over a past, a territory, a piece of land or a pre-existing building, and never on a void or a clean slate. This school is an example of this. It is based on an existing school, which was refurbished and its essence maintained, and to which new modules, new accesses and different materials were added.
The Paredes School stems from the need to renovate and rehabilitate a pre-fabricated school, whose structure was in disrepair and no longer provided adequate levels of quality and comfort.
Based on this need for renovation and expansion, three new bodies were designed to respond to the spatial and functional needs. Above all their role was to unify the structure without affecting the existing pavilion feel, which we tried to explore as a concept, image or identity for the new building. It is a composition of volumes based on the addition of pure and juxtaposed volumes, with distinct identities and shapes, combined with the subtle use of awnings and voids. An effort to create different outdoor areas and combine new cladding materials further characterise this intervention.
We tried to create a school with its own personality and identity, using existing elements, designing a dynamic and stimulating silhouette for the whole complex which was intended to be renovated, updated and for this reason different.
Localização . Location
Paredes
Projeto . Project
2008_2011
Dono da Obra . Client
Câmara Municipal de Paredes
Arquitetura Coordenação . Architecture’s Coordination
Nuno Lacerda Lopes
Arquitetura Colaboração . Architecture Colaborations
CNLL | Márcia Areal, Vanessa Tavares, Natália Rocha
Especialidades . Specialties
CNLL | RGA
Área do Lote . Lot Area
6.330 m2
Área Bruta de Construção . Gross Building Area
3.860 m2
Simulações 3D . 3D Simulations
CNLL
Maqueta . Model
CNLL
Fotografia . Photography
Nelson Garrido
