Transdisciplinary Approach for a New School Complex

The building is designed as a compact rectangular volume, arranged over two above-ground levels and set back to create the new urban square, a place for social gatherings and a symbolic space that connects the school with the community. The external frontage features linear façades, while the side facing the inner courtyard has sinuous forms, always maintaining visual contact with the greenery. The key element of the project is identified in the informal and exploratory connecting space, no longer a simple corridor but a didactic device—flexible and ever-changing—conceived as a large additional classroom, characterised by rigid forms and soft contours that guide the flow of students. Inside, alongside more informal functions, are the educational workshops and the large multifunctional space of the agora. The school was designed by applying themes related to biophilic design, with soft, organic shapes that evoke the natural and biomorphic world. The views have been designed to maintain constant visual contact with the external landscape by incorporating large windows to enhance attention and concentration. The building systems strategy was driven by the use of renewable energy sources and a strong focus on occupant comfort. With the overall aim of reducing energy and environmental impact, the electrical system was designed using ultra-low consumption components, and solutions were implemented to minimise energy use in full compliance with MEC (Minimum Environmental Criteria). The installation of a photovoltaic system is planned for the entire complex, aimed at achieving significant energy savings. The generation of heat and cooling will be achieved through reversible air/water heat pumps, with particular attention given to MVHR, without excluding the possibility of manual openings.