On the pretext of designing a pre-primary and primary school for children, the solution to an urban problem was sought: the quarter available for construction was characterised by a great void stuck between discordant scales and languages, open to integration into the urban fabric.

© Arménio Teixeira

Architects: Nuno Brandão Costa

Location: Padrao de Legua, 4460-732 Custóias, Portugal

Area: 4804.0 m2

Project Year: 2011

Photographs: Arménio Teixeira

Collaborators: Filipa Júlio, Luísa Moura

Structure : Ana Isabel Vale (ABprojectos)

Hydraulic: Ana Isabel Vale (ABprojectos)

Electrical: Maria Da Luz Santiago (RS Associados)
Mechanical : Raul Bessa (GET)

© Arménio Teixeira

From the architect. On the pretext of designing a pre-primary and primary school for children, the solution to an urban problem was sought: the quarter available for construction was characterised by a great void stuck between discordant scales and languages, open to integration into the urban fabric.

Sketch

The brief for the school comprised three main strands: classrooms, a library, and a common space for a gymnasium and a canteen, each with different areas and volumes. This difference in size and brief enabled its division into different bodies, siti...