As part of the international design competition “Futura. The School of the Project of Tomorrow,” funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR – Education), the studio, in collaboration with Incide Engineering, designed the new school complex in Albaredo d’Adige (Verona), which replaced the former A. Vivaldi Primary School and R. Simoni Lower Secondary School.
The masterplan concept aimed to create a “Civic Center” through the development of a civic infrastructure that would be more than “just” a school. The strength of the project lay in the creation of a large new campus experienced as a community hub, becoming a focal point for educational, social, and cultural activities. The development was conceived as an innovative architectural landmark, acting as a driver of urban regeneration. It provides a healthy, ecological, and safe living and learning environment, with low operating and maintenance costs, supported by energy-efficient and comfortable classrooms for students and teaching staff, in direct contact with the surrounding natural environment.
The interventions followed an essential and flexible vision of functions and uses, allowing for extracurricular activities, including gym and auditorium use. The aim was to ensure the school could be active for 12 hours a day, beyond teaching hours, as a true space for growth, exchange, and sharing.
The site for the new Albaredo d’Adige school complex consisted of a 12,000 sqm plot in an urban context, close to the town center, bordered by Via dello Sport to the north, Via degli Alpini to the south, and the sports hall to the east. A single two-storey school building was constructed, accommodating both primary and lower secondary school functions, with the possibility of future expansion.
Overall, the project provides 16 classrooms: 10 for primary school (two sections) and 6 for lower secondary school (two sections), along with 5 laboratories, 7 flexible learning spaces without fixed layouts for subjects such as art, music, and IT, an open-plan library without walls, and an auditorium for performances and recreational events—shared between both school levels. The complex also includes administrative spaces, a dining hall with kitchen and refectory, a gym, distribution corridors designed to encourage social interaction, and restrooms distributed throughout the building to ensure maximum accessibility.
For the local community, continuity of service was ensured by constructing the new school on a site adjacent to the existing one, allowing demolition of the former building only after the inauguration of the new complex. The former site, following demolition, was converted into green areas, while retaining the portion already used as public parking.
Improvements to road infrastructure and pedestrian connections facilitated access to the school without disrupting citizens’ daily routines. “Smart access points” were introduced to separate user flows, preventing overlap between students, school staff, service personnel, teaching staff, and external visitors.
The project was developed through a multiscale spatial approach: the fundamental idea was to achieve typological, technological, and morphological simplicity through an integrated design process combining architecture, structure, and systems. All elements were coordinated into a unified and linear composition, forming a piece of urban landscape strongly oriented toward environmental sustainability.
The relationship between architecture and the natural environment was developed through principles of sustainable building, effective passive design strategies, efficient energy systems, and eco-compatible materials. Environmental sustainability was also pursued through building orientation and shading strategies, maximizing natural lighting and solar thermal and photovoltaic energy use. Special attention was given to integrating photovoltaic systems on the roof to maximize renewable energy production. Two energy centers and an ecological island were also implemented.
The masterplan featured a two-storey L-shaped building, organized around three bays, with two corridors in the main wing and one in the smaller wing. The primary school was located in the larger wing, while the secondary school occupied the smaller one; administrative spaces were placed on the ground floor near the entrance. A large green area was created on the main frontage, while outdoor sports fields were located in front of the secondary school, in continuity with the existing sports facilities.
From an architectural standpoint, the project was developed based on the principle of modularity. The adoption of a consistent architectural language ensured aesthetic unity and, during construction, allowed for reduced costs and shorter building times. The design is sober, elegant, and minimal, with proportions tailored to children.
The façades, simple and modular, are articulated through a sequence of opaque panels alternated with slightly flared metal sheet elements, separated by slim vertical mullions that give rhythm and vertical emphasis to the building, while ensuring ease of maintenance and long-term durability.
All roofs are flat and designed as green roofs, contributing to stormwater management, air purification, energy savings, and biodiversity support. Solar thermal and photovoltaic panels are installed on top.
Floor finishes in classrooms, dining areas, changing rooms, and the gym consist of homogeneous, impact-resistant vinyl flooring. The use of a single material ensures continuity between spaces and contributes to a unified perception of the interiors.
Colors vary according to function: yellow for laboratories, green for intercultural classrooms, and light grey for other spaces. The library and entrance stepped seating feature a layered vinyl wood-effect finish. Walls are finished in white, except in classrooms where a green painted band runs from floor level up to 1.10 m.
External façades are insulated with an external thermal insulation system (ETICS) and finished with light-colored plaster to improve energy performance, while corrugated aluminium sheets are used in the window modules.
Classrooms are designed to maximize natural daylight and are equipped with acoustic suspended ceilings to reduce sound reverberation. The shading system consists of innovative blinds with aluminium micro-louvres integrated within the cavity of double or triple glazing units.
The primary school block was developed as a compact slab based on modules separated by circulation corridors. The façades are characterized by repeated modules of glazed doors ensuring visual continuity between interior and exterior, as well as inclined metal sheet cladding with fenestrated panels. Grooved interior walls allow for integrated seating in corridors and built-in shelving within classrooms, activating transitional spaces. On the ground floor, administrative areas and classrooms are located, while the central strip includes the library, patio, and intercultural spaces. This layout creates a perception of an open plan and continuous spatial visuality. The large patio, in addition to providing ventilation and daylight together with skylights, brings nature into the building, effectively creating outdoor classrooms.
Inside the school, a shared atrium with the secondary school—called the “agora”—features double-height space and large glazed façades, providing access to the upper floor via the main stairs and offering a place for social interaction and pause through its stepped seating.
Each ground-floor classroom has direct access to outdoor spaces for open-air activities. Laboratories and intercultural areas are designed as flexible spaces for more dynamic and interactive learning. Administrative spaces are located in the south-eastern corner of the building and include the principal’s office, administrative offices, staff room, and dedicated services.
The secondary school block, located in the smaller wing of the building, follows the same modular principle and replicates the same spatial organization as the primary school, with the addition of a dedicated music classroom for instrumental practice.
The dining hall includes a refectory (sized for both primary and secondary school shifts) and a kitchen dedicated to meal reheating.
The auditorium consists of a double-height hall, entrance foyer, and storage room.
Outdoor sports facilities include a running track, a volleyball court, and a basketball court.
Green areas are a central element of the project, organized as park zones for leisure and social interaction. The relationship with nature is ensured both directly and through visual connections between interior spaces and the landscape. The selection of tree and shrub species provides year-round ornamental value with low maintenance requirements. Perimeter areas are planted with free-growing hedges, while lawn areas are composed of hardy, low-water-demand species. Irrigation is provided by automated pop-up systems for efficient water management.
