The Cascina Merlata Educational Institute is a project for a contest by invitation in which the architectural office EMBT Miralles Tagliabue (http://www.mirallestagliabue.com/) was one of the studios worldwide invited to participate. I worked in this project as a special colaborator while I was an intern of the refered studio.
The project is located in the country side of Milan, in the region known as Cascina Merlata. The school project takes place in an allotment where used to be an obsolete factory and furnace (the latter is still there), which is part of a bigger project lead by Milan's City Hall.
The intervention fits with respect to the ancient Water Furnace, which integrates into the project by transforming the galleries in interior walls, corridors and exhibition spaces. The project was born from the idea to pay homage to the ancient quercieto of Merlata, shown in the map of Claricio 1659, by creating a compact building like a theatrical backdrop of trees, shielding the view at the Cemetery, from which the leaves that fall to the ground disperse in the Park. The institution will host: kindergarten, consisting of 200 children; elementary school, 375 students, 225 middle school students and a fitness facility that will host the game of volleyball and basketball.
Project Directors: Benedetta Tagliabue, Joan Callís and Valentina Noris.
Location: Milan, Italy.
Year: 2013
The project is located in the country side of Milan, in the region known as Cascina Merlata. The school project takes place in an allotment where used to be an obsolete factory and furnace (the latter is still there), which is part of a bigger project lead by Milan's City Hall.
The intervention fits with respect to the ancient Water Furnace, which integrates into the project by transforming the galleries in interior walls, corridors and exhibition spaces. The project was born from the idea to pay homage to the ancient quercieto of Merlata, shown in the map of Claricio 1659, by creating a compact building like a theatrical backdrop of trees, shielding the view at the Cemetery, from which the leaves that fall to the ground disperse in the Park. The institution will host: kindergarten, consisting of 200 children; elementary school, 375 students, 225 middle school students and a fitness facility that will host the game of volleyball and basketball.
Project Directors: Benedetta Tagliabue, Joan Callís and Valentina Noris.
Location: Milan, Italy.
Year: 2013
3D model of the project.
Some of the conceptual collages of the project.
Paper model. One of the many models that were made as a part of the creative process before the final wood prototype.
Cascina Merlata's first floor.
Cascina Merlata's sections.
Kindergarten's classroom type. The idea comes from the oak tree leaves, that are part of the natural environment of Cascina Merlata's area.
3D view of the interior space of kindergarten's classroom.
3D view of the pergola entry of the Educational Institute.
3D model of one of the two principal entrances to the building.
3D model of a view to the inner courtyard for the kids.
Final model of wooden materials.
