geometric activity pods welcome young students into renovated school playground in spain

ele arkitektura revamps san antonio school in spain

Ele Arkitektura has completed the renovation of the San Antonio school in Durango, Spain, restoring the façade and redesigning both its exterior and interior playgrounds. The three interventions are connected by pure geometries, unifying the identity of the entire space through elements that are easily understood by children. Tiered wooden platforms, activity pods in bright colors, and structures that encourage exploration complete the project , creating a cozy and playful environment for the young students.

the San Antonio school in Durango | all images courtesy of Aitor Estevez

the GEOMETRIC PLAYGROUND LANDSCAPE

One of Ele Arkitektura’s main ideas in renovating the school was to relate the courtyard to its surroundings while opening a window to the street, allowing passersby to observe and access the heart of the complex. To achieve this, the architects installed a permeable metal cover that runs along each of the new interventions and adapts to the needs of each area.

Geometric volumes in bright colors have been inserted into the metal grid, breathing new life into the previously empty passageway. In this way, different circuits have been created – observatories, slides, horizontal and vertical stairs, and bridges. These active pockets are left to young users to approach in any way they choose. The closed path leads to an area with wooden platforms that reflect the geometry of nature. The different scenarios designed to encourage children’s interaction are adapted to their scale, creating places that remind of the mountain, the cave, or the beach.

all non-essential elements on the facade have been eliminated

the transparent CLOISTER and the unifying facade

The Ele Arkitektura team has designed a new cloister that serves as an indoor playground for the youngest students aged 0-2. The 18×18 meter cloister with its covered walkways has two clear goals. One is to create a transparent area that fills the gap between the patio and the two corridors, and the other is to cover the patio to create a rewarding, useful and multifunctional space.

The new roofing is almost immaterially integrated into the courtyard thanks to the transparency of the material. This canopy greatly increases the usable space on rainy days while allowing natural light to permeate the space. Taking advantage of the existing height difference of 40 cm, a wooden platform was built, creating circular depressions that the little ones can explore and use in various ways.

Meanwhile, all non-essential elements on the facade have been eliminated and the perimeter has been given a new profile, treating it as if it were a single building. Through this cleaning, the geometric elements of the facade have been strengthened.

geometric volumes inserted into the metal grid breathe new life into the previously empty passageway