china entryway self closing flood barrier

A Bond that nature has made with itself in order to proliferate and that in that singleĭrop of water contains an eternal knowledge, a knowledge that must be protected and guarded. Like a drop of water which, in contact with the ground, creates a furrow from which, over time, a The goal of the human being has always been to pass on knowledge to future generations, to protect andĭevelop it. Project by: Valeria Schiavone, Gianluca Dell'Abate, Danny De Carolis The distinguishing feature of horizons_ is the ability to create under one light roof multiple spatial experiences of light and circulation. The interior distribution spaces are lighted through the gap created by the overlaps between the roofs: a long skylight emerges and creates an almost dramatic atmosphere inside the building. Differently, it opens up towards the landscape on the upper level. The slope in front of the building is also a great space to play outside, but still feeling part of the school borders. The building reacts to the landscape in two very different ways: it encloses and protects the classrooms’ side with a gentle slope, that denies the horizon view but still allows the light to flood the rooms. Instead, another ramp brings you back to the ground floor level, where a canteen - but also a a space to meet and study together - is conceived. A serving wall encapsulates niches to host bookshelves or lockers for school materials. A long corridor allows you to access a laboratory for common activities and the classrooms, stacked one next to the other. From here the distribution is possible to all the spaces of the building. The access to the school happens through a long ramp, which allows to percieve the landscape in a continously changing way, before entering - under the roof - in a partially underground hall. The building is a fisherman boat stranded along the shores of the Casamance river or a huge tent that protects from the harsh african sun, framing the horizon lines. The design aims to create a building that almost disappears and merges with the earth and the sky, a place carved out in the earth, like a wound in the ground, gently covered by three curved metallic roofs. horizons_ finds a way to deeply understand and embrace the rural landscape of Southern Senegal: the horizon lines, the vast plains, the densely vegetated areas in the background and the soil eroded by the sun. The project site stands in a peaceful and naturalistic fragment of the Casamance region, a place where time stopped and people’s life still follows nature rythms. The classrooms are designed as pavilions connected by external corridors of veranda type overlooking the central courtyard, and are alternated with patios where pupils can play, or even carry out outdoor activities.įrom inside the classroom, children and teachers can always have eye contact with the vegetation located in the patios: wooden shutters, which can be opened on both sides, filter the solar radiation and enable pupils to experience the passage of daylight throughout the day. The life of the school takes place in a continuous system where the interior spaces, the outdoor covered areas, the patios, the interstitial spaces and the courtyard become available to the needs and creativity of the community. The proposal interprets the program through a simple and clear logic: a front volume which hosts the entrance, the offices/teaching staff areas and all the common spaces, and two wings for the classrooms at the back, facing a central courtyard.įrom outside, the school reveals its simplicity and modularity: walls in rammed earth express their solidity and continuity with the ground, while the structural system of the roof is formed by a wooden grid, designed as a light horizontal element that gently lays on the walls. Starting from the awareness of the importance that nature and outdoor areas have in making learning spaces more inspiring and pedagogical, Primary School in Southern Senegal is conceived as an horizontal open settlement blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. It is widely acknowledged that space has a great influence on how children learn and it deeply affects their educational experience.Īn “open-air school” is the perfect setting where to provide stimulating environments and promote a creative approach to learning. Project by: Stefano Sabatino, Alessandra Giorgino

China entryway self closing flood barrier