CASA SOLO, teaming up with OFICI: arquitectura, we have won the competition for the new Ermessenda Secondary School, in the city of Girona.
The conversion of the former Simon factory into the new Ermessenda Secondary School is part of the urban transformation that is being carried out in the southern access to Girona, in the area located between the RENFE tracks and the Barcelona road. This area, which until a few years ago was occupied by industrial warehouses such as the building that is the object of this competition, will be transformed according to the new urban planning to accommodate a residential area, green areas and facilities, significantly improving the neighborhood.
Leveraging, recycling and repurposing an existing building contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the building. The proposal includes a scondary school and an adult education center.
It is proposed to concentrate the Adult Education Center on the first floor and second floor of the building perpendicular to Barcelona Street, with access from a side street. In this way, both educational centers housed in the building are clearly independent at a functional and circulation level.
Access to the Secondary School is from Barcelona Street, through a large three-story atrium-lobby that connects the street with the courtyard. The lobbies of both centers are visually connected by glass, creating a cross visual interaction and bringing luminosity to the space.
The agora becomes the core of the Institute, with relationship and meeting spaces on all floors, while a new roof with skylights guarantees the entry of natural light to the agora on the first floor.
The distribution of the program itself becomes one of the main climatic and energy saving strategies, adjusting to the thermal needs of the different spaces. Thus, permanent use areas are differentiated from intermediate and circulation areas. This strategy is complemented by a double climate control façade.
Once again, we would like to thank the entire participating team for their dedication and effort!
