Cascais School

in collaboration with Atelier dos Remédios

The proposal for the reconstruction of the Cascais School aims to capitalize the environmental quality of the existing site (with the pine forest on the west) through the creation of a system with natural, semi natural and built places, conducive to learning, growth and well being.

At the center of this system – the school’s center – a rectangular and long volume, formed by a two level ring, floats above the smaller volumes on the ground floor. This main block houses the formal program – the classrooms- organized around two voids: an exterior patio that works as a meeting place during breaks; and the main hall, a three floor void that concentrates and organizes circulation.

The cultural and sports activities are organized and aggregated around and under the main block: the library, the auditorium and the sports facilities occupy the volumes on the ground floor in a close connection with the main block, the recreation areas of the school, and the public space, allowing these spaces to be used also by the community.

program: middle and high school architecture: João Fagulha, Raquel Oliveira + Francisco Teixeira Bastos e Madalena Cardoso Menezes (Atelier dos Remédioslandscape architecture: Oficina dos Jardins – Inês Ferrão e Sónia Caldeira structural engineer: PRPC engenheiros – João Paulo Cardoso especialidades: OHM Sor – Luís Mira 3D images: Studio Nascente client: Cascais Municipality area: 12.900 m2 location: Cascais, Portugal year: 2019 status: competition 6th place