Coinciding with that next week is the Portugal with in Madrid, Porto architects, Cannata & Fernandes Architects shared with us their newly completed project "Combatentes Educational Center" in Ovar, Portugal.

The project integrates brilliantly in the city. In addition to maintaining the relationship between the existing building and the city, adds a new building, formally characterized by outward curved geometry. The design of the new building is volumetrically clear, however, also makes a series of small-scale gestures approaching the scale of the user and visitor (windows, entrances, covered walkways and steps and connection between the new and the old). The program is developed between the two buildings, restored existing and the new.

In plan, the project is characterized by the use of different curves, very controlled, that when they rise vertically they generate sensual, suggestive and bright spaces to which we are accustomed from Cannata & Fernandes Architects. Congratulations!

The restored building has hosted public functions, parents associations, allowing the program is not mixed and its use will be fluid and agile. The new building has assigned classrooms, gym, nursery, dining room, kitchen and related services and multipurpose rooms to suit the school program requirements of children from three to ten years old.

Project text by CANNATÀ & FERNANDES architects

The project, while maintaining the relations of the preexisting building with the street, adds a new building, formally characterized by its curvilinear geometry which is able to create conditions for the development of the school program while rebalancing all the terrain lines and angles. The different functions are articulated in two buildings (old and new), characterized by the different architectural objectives (rehabilitation and new construction) and the different school program requirements to receive children from the age of three to ten years old.

On the preexisting building, the project recovers the interior court and all the elements that characterize the four facades. The interior spaces are rehabilitated, depending on the functional requirements that the building has to meet, ensuring the balance with their specific architectural character. The functions related to public use were installed in this building, ensuring a smooth relationship between the school and the community - office, meeting room of the parent's association, staff room, office and service areas, library, computer room, curriculum enrichment / music and related services.

The new building contains the classrooms, gymnasium, kindergarten, canteen, kitchen and related services and multipurpose rooms. This is characterized in the Southwest by a facade comprising a blade system which controls the light and heat, while producing a variation in the building associated with games, creativity and rigor. The Northeast is characterized by a curved facade made of concrete, isolated and covered with tiles. The use of tiles creates a waterproof barrier and establishes a relationship of continuity with an ancient technique well dominated by the constructive culture of Ovar.  To ensure continuity of the spaces two covered passages were planned between the buildings in both levels.

Read more
Read less

More information

Label
Architects
Text
Cannatà & Fernandes. Fátima Fernandes e Michele Cannatà.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Project Team
Text
Riccardo Cannatà, Dario Cannatà, Bruno Silva, Marta Lemos, Nuno Castro, Francisco Meireles, João Pedro Martins.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Collaborators
Text
Structural Engineering.- Gop – João Maria Sobreira. Water Supply Ans Sewage.- Gop – Raquel Fernandes.Mechanical Engineering.- Get – Raul Bessa. Electrical Engineering.- Gpic – Alexandre Martins. Acustics.- Inacoustics - Octávio Inácio.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Client
Text
Câmara Municipal De Ovar.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Builder
Text
João Cabral Gonçalves & Filhos, Lda.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Area
Text
Implantation area.- 2.440,97 m².
Construction area.- 5.271 m².
Exterior spaces.- 3.421 m².
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Dates
Text
2008-2012.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Budget
Text
Cost of the building.- € 2,975,000.00.
Cost of landscaping.- € 195,000.00.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Location
Text
Ovar, Portugal.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Awards
Text
1º Prize for the Project of Combatentes Educational Center Competition at Ovar, attribution by the Jury Selection Board.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.
Label
Photography
Text
Luis Ferreira Alves, Dario Cannatà, Pepe Barbiere.
+ + copy Created with Sketch.
- + copy Created with Sketch.

CANNATÀ & FERNANDES arquitectos Lda was founded in 2000 by FÁTIMA FERNANDES and MICHELE CANNATÀ. They have been working together since 1984, developing professional activity both in Portugal and Italy. They are the Scientific Coordinators of Architectural events at CONCRETA - EXPONOR since 1999. In 2003 they became the Scientific Coordinators in charge of ASA editions Architecture Department  and, in 2004 the scientific coordinators of the Architecture Department of CIVILIZAÇÃO editions.

Their works and projects have been presented in various individual and collective exhibitions, among which the Venice Biennial in 1996, and the Milan Triennial in 1997.

Their office develops architecture projects, town planning, design, graphic design and engineering services on subcontract conditions directly related to the architecture main activity. They also develop an important editorial activity through book edition, commissioning exhibitions and international seminars of architecture.

They have been invited by universities and cultural institutions to talk about their projects and to participate, while teachers, in several international seminar projects.

The office occupies a long narrowed lot, which is a characteristic of Oporto's urban mesh.  There used to be a house and an old factory now reconverted in the office. It is localized in the urban center of Porto in the Northern Coast of Portugal.

Six architects, three trainee architects and an assistant form the working team.

FÁTIMA FERNANDES was born in Bemposta, Mogadouro, Portugal, in 1961.

1979-1986. Studies in Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto where she graduates in Architecture.
1984. Does her traineeship in Italy, guided by prof. Arch. Manuel Mendes.
1990-1992. Becomes the Architect in charge of the Department for the Support of the Historic Center of Miranda do Douro.
Since 1996. Teacher of the Architecture Section (Architecture V) in Escola Superior Artística do Porto. ESAP.
2003. Begins her PhD attending the Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura da Universidade de Madrid.

MICHELE CANNATÀ was born in Polistena, Italy, in 1952.

1971-1977. Studies in Istituto Universitario Statale di Architettura di Reggio Calabria where he graduates in Architecture.
1978-1982. Works in Polistena City Hall, Italy, as principal architect.
1982. Attends "La Rinascita della Città" High Course in Bolonha, Italy.
1983-1984. Becomes assistant in the Faculty of Architecture of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
1993. Obtains the equivalence of his Academic title in the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto.
Since 1997. Teacher of the Architecture Section (Architecture IV) in Escola Superior Artística do Porto. ESAP.
2009. Doctorate in "Composizione Architettonica e Progettazione Urbana" in the University of Chieti-Pescara Italy, department  IDEA. Infrastrutture, Design, Engeneering Architecture.

Read more

Michele Cannatà (1952) Polistena, Italy. Graduated from the Institute State University of Architecture of Reggio Calabria in 1977. Doctor in “Architectural and Urban Planning” in 2009. Since 1997 he is teacher of architectural design at ESAP (Escola Superior Artistica do Porto) and Director of the Department of Architecture in 2010/12.

Read more

Fátima Fernandes (1961) Bemposta de Mogadouro, Portugal. Graduated from the Escola Superior de Belas Artes in Porto (ESBAP) in 1986, carrying out the professional training in Italy. Since 1996 she is teacher of Architectural Design at the School of Architecture of ESAP (Escola Superior Artística do Porto).

Read more
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...