Riacho Fundo II Elementary School

2nd place – National Architecture Competition

The architectural design of the Riacho Fundo Elementary School was developed based on three pillars that structure its conception: Urbanity, Austerity, and Cost-Effectiveness.

The proposed architectural solution incorporates the concepts and principles of a large pavilion with upper openings, whose plastic expression simultaneously defines both the qualified appropriation of the land and the intentional disruption of the city’s urban profile.

The elementary school was designed with the intention of providing a pause, a break in the urban landscape defined by a continuous strip of buildings with a constant height. Thus, space is created for the establishment of a reference landmark through the insertion of the building, whose scale allows for the creation of a new identity within the city’s urban structure. The intended urbanity is not limited to the design strategies for the school’s implantation. It also aims to foster, if deemed appropriate, an ongoing participatory process that seeks to engage the community in the school’s activities.

The program of requirements was distributed with the aim of prioritizing a logical and rational zoning. On the ground floor, there are public-private facilities such as the cafeteria, library, auditorium, and sports hall, all with open and independent access for the community. On the first floor, classrooms, laboratories, and other administrative spaces are located. Therefore, the flexibility of space usage is a unique characteristic that, if well managed, will certainly foster significant community involvement, allowing the local population to appropriate this essential urban facility that promotes the quality of life for citizens.

Convinced that the austerity of the design should prevail as the concept uniting the entire project, we sought a conception that would rigorously express the clarity of our intentions. Design decisions were made to ensure the creation of an organized and efficient building, with a strategic reduction in construction actions. The materials used in the finishes reflect a commitment to practicality, durability, and low maintenance, aligned with principles of cost-effectiveness in managing public resources.