The SFDA.lab addresses the needs of a school group by designing a cafeteria space that allows students to dine informally outside of the school restaurant's regular hours. The project is envisioned as a versatile space that not only serves as a cafeteria but also introduces new functionalities to the school group.
The project is located at the junction of a 1970s building and a monolithic extension housing the high school. Besides the expressed requirement for a new cafeteria, it appears that certain existing spaces, such as the auditorium or the entrance hall, have reached their maximum capacity or could be enriched with complementary uses. Rather than implementing multiple separate interventions, the project proposes a flexible space capable of accommodating these diverse requirements.
The new construction is divided into three interlocked volumes, providing a volumetric transition between the plastered monolith of the high school and the residential pavilions facing it.
The positioning of these pavilions maintains the natural light in the spaces sheltered by the existing high school and imparts distinctiveness to the outdoor spaces, separating the parking area from a newly created tree-lined square.
Acknowledging that educational environments have undergone minimal changes since the 1930s, The addition of a new building is perceived as a chance to provide a versatile space that facilitates informal and collaborative work approaches.
Besides serving as a cafeteria, it also establishes synergy with adjacent functions, opening up possibilities beyond the initial design, such as accommodating a communication space, an auditorium foyer, or extending the small entrance hall.
In order to fulfill the project’s aspirations for flexibility, the interior spaces are extensively open and equipped with adaptable furniture. A central plywood block houses the project’s «fixed» functions.The interweaving of the exterior volumes is discernible from within through varying ceiling heights as well as their color scheme
In order to reduce the building’s carbon footprint, the wooden structure is covered with charred wood siding, setting the project apart from other constructions and emphasizing this alternative entrance to the school group. Furthermore, this cladding technique helps prolong the facade’s lifespan and simplifies maintenance.
The interior design of the building is in line with the same sustainability objectives. The flexibility and adaptability of the spaces ensure that the building can accommodate the inevitable changes within the school. Additionally, four pieces of furniture come together to enable students and teachers to shape the space according to their needs.
Behind the project’s apparent simplicity lies a complex building. The choice of a durable wooden framework and cladding as an extension to a concrete construction brings forward technical challenges that are deemed crucial to confront.
Behind the project’s apparent simplicity lies a complex building. The choice of a durable wooden framework and cladding as an extension to a concrete construction brings forward technical challenges that are deemed crucial to confront.
