The site is inserted in the existing fabric which is laid out on a regular east-west grid.
The roads are always couplet with "green rivers", pedestrian and cycling routes that, moving through the buildings, flow to the park to the north-west. They soften the rigid grid pattern while offering sheltered pathways in a city so keen on cycling.
Two different modules, joined together, form the basic cell of the system: their different sizes and stacking determine a series of typologies that differ in size, number of rooms and functions.
The sliding, re-positioning and offsetting of these micro-elements generate patios, balconies, double height spaces, all configured differently. The facade materials are also varied in order to achieve a higher level of visual complexity, enhancing visibility and sense of belonging.
Natural light envelopes and penetrates the spaces deeply, filtered and harnessed to enhance or mitigate the effects of the passing seasons.
Large curtain walls to the south and to the west, sheltered by brise-soleils and cantilevered balconies, expand the visuals creating an in-and-out effect and connecting the houses with the green spaces outside, private and public. All of this happens thanks to the la test technology in thermal insulation to guarantee comfort and environmental performance.
A "neighborhood" generation plant uses the constant round temperature to distribute hot and cold air and water to the single dwellings and the new school complex. This, coupled with an extensive use of solar energy, vastly reduces the environmental impact. The entire complex has been designed to accommodate under floor heating and cooling, in order to achieve better performance in terms of comfort and energy consumption.
The same principles have been applied to the new school building. Orientation has been studied to maximize light and thermal comfort, making the spaces more enjoyable and more economically and environmentally viable.
