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The design concept departs from the traditional classroom learning model to enhance communal spaces. Traditionally, corridors in schools are conceived as spaces "between" places, namely classrooms. This conception often results in an architectural design that diminishes the centrality of the corridor; architects Scattola and Simeoni aimed to restore centrality to this space, expanding it and imbuing it with identities beyond being merely transitional.
The outcome is an architecture that features a tripartite division of volumes, with a central environment consisting of a passageway atrium extending the full length of the building. Within this central space are an agora, library, motor activity area, and portico creating a volume that connects to all classrooms, virtually extending them.
Thanks to the large windows and visual continuity, the creation of multiple school environments and the sharing of teaching activities by the entire school community are encouraged. These windows establish a relationship between the interior and exterior of the building, giving it an unexpected transparency from an initial external glance. The opacity perceived from the outside aims to make the school environment feel "protected," while from the inside, the perception is that of a transparent building across multiple levels.
The project of the secondary school in Cassola (VI) completes the community's educational center. The architecture envisages a tripartite distribution of volumes, with a central environment consisting of a passageway atrium extending the full length of the building. Within this central space are an agora, library, motor activity area, and portico, creating a volume that connects to all classrooms, virtually extending them. Thanks to the large windows and visual continuity, the creation of multiple school environments and the sharing of teaching activities by the entire school community are encouraged.
The building, developed on two above-ground floors, can accommodate 7 classes and 175 students. It includes 7 classrooms, 3 on the ground floor and 4 on the upper floor, as well as two bathroom blocks, three laboratories, a teachers' room, one for students with disabilities, one for psychomotor activities, one for receiving people, and a space for soft activities.
Regarding materials, preference is given to natural and eco-friendly ones: internal walls are made of double-layer gypsum board, PVC flooring is used for classrooms and common areas, wood for the grandstand and stairs, while bathrooms have ceramic tile coverings. Internal fixtures, such as doors and frames, are made of wood, as well as fixed furnishings such as bookcases. All finishes are selected considering their characteristics of durability, maintainability, aesthetic quality, and sustainability.
It's a beautiful and innovative school in the conception of spaces, allowing for an open expansion. I believe that being able to study there will be a great opportunity for both teachers and students.
After several years of individual professional experiences, mostly gained in residential construction, Agostino Scattola and Dimitri Simeoni founded the Studio Scattola Simeoni Architetti Associati in 2006. In this capacity, they undertake both public and private projects in residential, urban, and landscape contexts, including renovations and restorations.
Among their major works are the town hall of Rossano Veneto, the Justice Citadel of Bassano del Grappa, and the urban redevelopment of Pedemonte. In the field of restoration, notable projects include the recovery of the Palladian villa attributed to A. Palladio and the conservative restoration of the Birthplace and Museum of the Pope in Riese Pio X. Aware that designing entails engaging in transformations that create relationships, aesthetic qualities, and technological advancements, they approach each project with attention to functional characteristics, relationships with the context, and technological and sustainable aspects.
