IMAGE
The project is conceived as a composition of solids and voids arranged within a regular perimeter, giving the ensemble a monolithic appearance. On one hand, the solid elements—housing the program—constitute the “positive volumes,” which are organized around voids that define the “negative volumes.” These voids form three courtyards that serve as shared spaces for the various educational levels (preschool, elementary, and secondary).
A continuous metal roof binds the whole, granting both volumetric unity to the separate parts and coherence to the façades.
The formal clarity and simplicity of the exterior contrast with an interior rich in spatial experiences, featuring triple- and quadruple-height spaces that introduce complexity and a sense of surprise.
The design avoids ornamental elements or surface claddings; instead, the structural material itself becomes the project’s architectural expression. In this way, the structure and enclosures—through the honesty of their function—serve as the material manifestation of the architecture.
ORDER
A regular underlying grid, defined by the structural modulation of the complex (7.5m x 8.0m), organizes each and every component within a strict Cartesian order. This approach simplifies construction details and reduces the number of unique elements, as the complex is essentially composed of repeated, standardized parts and pieces—an economically efficient strategy. This order is maintained across both above-ground structures and underground levels.
AXES
Two clear organizing axes run through the building. The first, oriented east–west, defines the main access and links to the sports areas. The second axis runs longitudinally north–south, connecting the three educational levels: preschool, elementary, and secondary.
COURTYARDS
The spatial arrangement of the program volumes generates three distinct courtyards: one for preschool, one for elementary, and one for secondary. Each is sensitively designed to reflect the needs of its users. The preschool courtyard opens to the north and features a playful character with soft surfaces. The elementary courtyard is paved with cobblestones and planted with orange trees, allowing for free use and shaded rest areas. The secondary courtyard is a multi-purpose civic esplanade adjacent to the main axis, incorporating an inclined plaza that functions as an amphitheater. This space supports a variety of activities and connects directly to the underground multipurpose room and cafeteria.
MATERIALITY
The primary materials are concrete, steel, and glass, aiming for an austere, monolithic, and noble expression. Each façade responds sensitively to its orientation, with continuous balconies opening toward the privileged views of the sports areas and distant mountain ranges. In contrast, the main façade presents a more hermetic and protected expression toward the street. Concrete façades integrate prefabricated elements to ensure both high-quality finishes and speed and precision in construction.
The roof is built from folded steel sheets with a triangular section, allowing for structural efficiency by reducing the thickness, weight, and cost.
The material language of the school seeks to harmonize with the adjacent buildings of the Estadio Israelita, originally designed by Recordón-Sartori.
FUNCTIONALITY
The layout consists of two parallel three-story bars, which primarily house the classrooms for the different educational levels. The central void between the bars is subdivided by transverse programmatic elements (such as administration and the library), which also define the three courtyards: a central enclosed one and two open ones at the ends.
The basement level includes shared parking, a multipurpose room, workshops, a cafeteria, and sports gyms.
SUSTAINABILITY
The configuration of elongated, narrow buildings facilitates natural cross-ventilation, allowing the project to forgo mechanical cooling systems in classrooms.
A double-skin façade on the western elevation creates a buffer zone that houses common balconies overlooking the sports areas, protecting interior spaces from direct solar radiation.
The folded steel roof is geometrically calculated according to the solstices to allow winter sun to penetrate while creating shaded areas during summer, free from direct radiation.
Classrooms are heated using high-efficiency “Jaga”-type radiators (which use only 10% of the water of conventional systems), connected to a condensing boiler.