Architects: Jordi Farrando Location: Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Cataluña, Spain Architect: Jordi Farrando Project Year: 2007 Photographs: Adrià Goula
Project Area: 3,355.05 sqm Mechanic : Francesc Andreu, Modest Mor i París Engineers : Gerardo Rodríguez, Joan González Gou Constructor: San José Constructions
The topography and geometry of the place have strongly conditioned the implementation. The new teaching equipment is placed in the corner of Avenida Josep Llobet and on the road to Sant Esteve n’Amat Ca, where the ground is wider and there is a certain platform allowing the sports courts be closer to the building. The place also provides an adequate relation with the houses, which are located to the south of the place and to the town center.
Organized as an L, with classrooms and an administration room located along the Avenue, the services are parallel to the path of Sant Esteve Can’Amat. The access is at elevation 155.50 in front of the Avenue and to the closest crosswalk to the roundabout. This access leads to a porch that links the two building blocks.
The arrangement in L allows to control from a single point the access to the center while facilitating the independent use of the rooms. Also, it is possible to supply the catering or the facilities areas without interfering with the areas used by the staff. Accountants or AMPA can access from the outside.
The classroom area consists of a linear block parallel to the Avenue and a few modules perpendicular to it. In the first module you can find classrooms for general and specific purposes. In the perpendicular modules the administration area, departments, students` store, computer rooms, library, laboratory, toilets and shop are located. In the space where the perpendicular modules are formed, a courtyard is located and is accessed and controlled from the floor plan. The location of the library on the ground floor allows students to have direct access to it from the outside.
The other area, which accommodates the catering, bar, cafeteria, gym and locker-room facilities, is located on two levels in order to fit the natural slope. So next to the entrance porch is the catering, bar and cafe. One floor below, changing rooms and gym are located. Connecting both levels, there is a ramp accessible from the front porch to the whole campus.
The patio is located within the area defined by the L arms, on two levels; on the ground floor of the building, where a platform with trees is located and below, another platform contains areas oriented northwest-southeast with immediate access from locker rooms and the gym.
