Sant Just Desvern – ONL Arquitectura – Spain

 

Architects: ONL Arquitectura
Location: Sant Just Desvern, Spain
Area: 512.78 m²
Year: 2008
Photographs: Marcella Grassi
Construction: Tau Icesa
Collaborators: Llorenç Vallribera, Cristina Ribera
Building Services: AVANT Enginyers
Structural Design: BIS Arquitectes
Client: Ajuntament De Sant Just Desvern
Budget: € 827,471.62

 

The commission arises from the need to build a gymnasium that complements the CEIP Canigó program, and that also solves its accessibility issues.

The rectangular building site is 310 square meters and it lies on a very steep slope, where a series of artificial platforms have been created in order to carry out the activities of this institution. A higher platform next to the classroom building and a lower platform for the sports track, with a level difference of 13 meters, are separated by a vegetated slope with 60% steepness, and a retaining wall next to the track that is used to create small terraces.

The new gymnasium is placed in the same area of the building to be demolished and at the level of the sports track, independent of the retaining wall and allowing for natural light to enter the rooms.

An exterior staircase links the existing sports track with the new changing rooms and the courts on the rooftop. The strategic location of this core facilitates a comfortable and direct access from the higher platform of the school to the new rooftop courts and the existing track. It also allows for the placement of a lift that solves the serious accessibility problems of CEIP Canigo. Direct access to the existing track is provided from Sant Ferran street.