Carolina, an OFS Company

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

SÃO CAETANO DO SUL TEACHERS CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Carolina Penna Arquitetura e Urbanismo

AREA
5000 m²

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
Brazil

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture

Text description provided by architects.

The Center for Professional Development was conceived as a public institution to serve the community. More than simply a school, its aim is to develop educators and encourage discussions about Education.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

- It is a place for collective use. - A space for studies, dialogue, meetings and debates among teachers, students, parents, citizens. - Open spaces, full of light, transparent. - A place for people to get acquainted, share and exchange.

THE COMPLEX

Two buildings host the didactic activities and the events center separately.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

They were built around a central patio where the original vegetation was kept. Part of the lot was given away for wide sidewalks and an external square, emphasizing the public aspect the complex has.

Internally, the closed volumes houses activities that require concentration, such as studying, classes and presentations.

They are distributed within a large internal space that, as well as an urban square, organizes the flux of people and allows meetings.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

The division between internal and external environment dissolves itself through the great glass openings, which connect the internal activities and the garden.

As well as in the city, the buildings and the central patio work independently but are intrinsically connected. An external ramp allows a walk through the buildings, deck and garden.

The constructive solutions proposed are widely known and economical. The selection of materials follows the same guideline: resistant, durable, economical and simple. 

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

Brickwork painted white, whitefloor, ecological wood panel, aluminum frame andexposed concrete structure. The white color is used to oppose to the green color from the garden.

THE GREEN AREA

Luckily, the original lot had beautiful trees and this original vegetation was kept and transformed into two gardens: one public and one internal.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

Both green masses, beyond aesthetical purposes, also provide a very pleasant living area to the users. It also contributes to a better thermal and acoustical performance of the buildings.

Preserving the existing vegetation was the starting point of the project.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

THE LIGHT

Openings, canopies and vegetation filter the light that shines onto the inside. It is reflected many times on the white surfaces and spreads itself in the interior of the building.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

In the west façade, due to insolation, small openings were designed, composing a mosaic of light and shadow that lightly indicates the activities on the inside.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon

On the south, a large glass wall facing the garden overspread the internal areas with light.

On the north, the classrooms contemplate the public square and the vegetation acts as a sun shade.

São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon


São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
© Nelson Kon


São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
Elevation


São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
Plans and Section
São Caetano Do Sul Teachers Center For Professional Development
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Carolina, an OFS Company
T +1 800 7630212
Carolina, an OFS Company
535 Archdale Blvd, Archdale, NC 27263, United States