Gravellona Toce Promary School

Location
Gravellona Toce

Year
2023

Typology
School construction

Status
1st place

PFTE, PD, PE, DL in progress

Tendering Authority
Municipality of Gravellona Toce

The design for the new elementary school is part of the larger school complex in Gravellona Toce, situated on the site of the old building, and establishes a new relationship with the surrounding mountain landscape and the existing historic structures.

The building is characterized by a simple, welcoming design that embraces students in a natural setting and opens up to the city through a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The multipurpose space on the ground floor extends outward, creating a platform for outdoor learning that serves as a new urban landmark, fostering social interaction between the school and the community.

From a design perspective, the new elementary school consists of a single, compact rectangular volume, whose glazed sections reveal an interior characterized by warm and comfortable spaces, organized according to a hierarchical spatial layout and a careful study of traffic flows to promote students’ orientation and independence. The library and laboratories are located on the ground floor to ensure easy access from the outside. Also on the ground floor, the extracurricular space is designed as a large, flexible hall capable of hosting various types of activities through a layout that can be easily modified using movable panels. This inclusive space promotes learning by engaging the body and movement through sliding panels made of transparent materials that visually connect the spaces.