Finalist project for the 2019 The Plan Award, " Education - Completed"

The design for the Sant’Alessandro Primary School in Caronno Pertusella was developed to become an integral part of the local landscape, creating an imaginative setting that stimulates the imagination of the children and the community.
The multi-purpose spaces and areas have been designed to support pupils on their journey of learning and growth, providing a safe, welcoming and well-organised environment.
Particular attention has been paid to the flexibility of the interior spaces: the rooms are conceived as dynamic and adaptable spaces, capable of transforming according to the users’ needs and different teaching methods. This openness to reconfiguration allows the school to evolve alongside teaching methods and the activities that take place there.
From a formal perspective, the design moves beyond the perception of a monolithic volume through a structured façade that engages with the landscape. The cladding and sunshade system, with its sinuous forms, echoes the natural and arboreal elements of the school garden, integrating functionality with architectural identity. The relationship between interior and exterior is central to all teaching spaces, thanks to the large windows that open the spaces onto the surrounding greenery, fostering continuous contact with nature.
The rhythm of the windows, the shading elements and the roof, together with the use of colour, helps to define the building’s expressiveness and character. The roof, with its curved wooden beams left fully exposed in the interior spaces, adds an element of warmth and welcome, creating pleasant and stimulating environments for the school’s daily life.