The design for the new lower secondary school in Pessano con Bornago has been conceived to break away from traditional school building layouts and meet the needs of an ever-changing educational landscape. Curved geometries characterise the interior spaces, making them flexible and easily adaptable to different teaching methods. The school is organised into four distinct departments, each identified by a different colour scheme, which encourages dynamic, rotating teaching methods. Great attention has also been paid to the choice of colours and materials, which are fundamental to defining the building’s identity and creating welcoming and stimulating environments.
The load-bearing steel structure enabled rapid and efficient construction, whilst ensuring high standards of safety and performance. The building is designed to meet anti-seismic criteria and the NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standard, with the aim of reducing energy consumption and minimising environmental impact.
The exterior is characterised by an expanded metal cladding, custom-designed by the project team. The façade comprises five different modules, arranged in an apparently random pattern to recreate the movement of a wave – a distinctive feature from which the school takes its name and which lends dynamism to the architecture.
The inclusion of a sports hall, an auditorium and a central courtyard, which are also open to the public, transforms the building into an open, multi-functional space, intended not only for school activities but also for events, cultural initiatives and sporting activities.