Renovation of the Former Superintendency Building in Elmas and nearby areas of the “Duca Degli Abruzzi” Institute

Due to the morphological complexity of the site, the proposal starts from a rigorous landscape-plan structure, in order to set out the relationships between paths and buildings, with a focus on community space.

The overall project is designed as a large agricultural and sports park with a series of functional architectures to “activate” the public space, with an eye towards enhancing the crops within the park.

First, the project carried out a series of steps necessary for the conversion of the area, starting with the complete redevelopment of the Former Superintendence – both from a design and energy point of view – and then focusing on the redefinition of the perimeters relating to the new school.

The large park overlooked by the building achieves a new balance thanks to the reorganization of the paths, with the provision of small additional services to support the areas for sports, recreational and educational spaces.

The first floor of the building that will host the new school/dormitory will be totally public and flexible as the aim is to make the school block an all-day living space. In fact, it will be dedicated to activities open to citizens: library, cafeteria, multifunctional space, gymnasium, dressing rooms, canteen and laundry; instead, the large hall will give access to the upstairs floors, which will be divided between classrooms and laboratories.

The new outdoor platform, keeping with the public aspect of the institute, highlights two other key aspects of the project: the removal of architectural barriers, achieved thanks to the series of ramps, and the function as a safe community place, to create opportunities for exchange and sharing between high school and dormitory students.