UNDER CONSTRUCTION
BRASÍLIA-DF, 2023-2025
“As you walk through this gate, we invite you to listen to the sounds of nature, take off your shoes, walk barefoot on the ground, and fill your lungs with air.”
The Escola da Árvore (Tree School) site is located on the outskirts of Brasília, within a large rural area with steep slopes. We have divided the school expansion program into three linear pavilions at different levels, interspersed with gardens and composed of semi-underground single-story rooms, adapted to the existing topography. Direct access to the blocks is via staircases and platforms connected to the terrain. A large covered central grandstand will connect the different levels. This grandstand functions as a multipurpose space that “crosses” the pavilions transversally. It is flanked by a set of ramps that will provide universal accessibility to all rooms in the school.
The buildings are divided into three parts: foundations, concrete supports and floors, metal pillars and roofs, thermoacoustic tiles, and exposed ceramic brick walls. On the roof, south-facing skylights provide indirect natural lighting and natural ventilation for all internal areas. Rainwater will be collected for use in the management of the “edible” gardens and the school’s agroforestry during the dry season. Part of the north-facing sloping roofs will be fitted with photovoltaic energy generation panels.
At the west end of each pavilion, covered side stands provide a privileged view of the Pilot Plan of Brasília.
Authors:
Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho, Matheus Seco
Coordination: Julia Huff
Team: Luís Alcântara and Jessica Gomes
Built Area: 3000m²
Project: 2024
Steel Structure Design: Vista Engenharia
Concrete Structure Design: André Torres
Facilities Design: Miguel Leo Pereira
