Blouberg International School in Cape Town, South Africa by PLUSARQUITECTURA (Sergio Aguilar) & Luis Mira, architects

Article source: PLUSARQUITECTURA (Sergio Aguilar) & Luis Mira, architects

The Junior School building corresponds to the Phase 1 of the Blouberg International School in Cape Town. The site is located into a residential area towards the north side of the city centre, where the climate transits from the lush and rainy part of the city towards the drier Atlantic ocean’s west coast.

Street View (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

• Architects: PLUSARQUITECTURA (Sergio Aguilar) & Luis Mira, architects
• Name of Project: Blouberg International School
• Location: Blouberg, Cape Town, South Africa
• Project Area: 900 sqm (building) – 2000 sqm (Civil works, entrance & walkways)
• Completion: 2011
• Photographs: Wieland Gleich
• Software used: ArchiCAD

The neighbourhood, mainly mid to low suburban density, is subject to strict design guidelines from the developers and the authorities, these affecting from the bulk and coverage of the building to the actual colours allowed to be used. The Junior School building is projected next to the road in a single story to relate unobtrusively to the residential character and scale of the surroundings.

Entrance view (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

The building remains autonomous, in its use, from the rest of the school layout and future development plan. The spaces are defined around a central courtyard protected from the wind and shaded by trees, under a straight forward and simple equation, where the two lateral wings holding the classrooms are ‘bridged’ by the multipurpose room. This room opens up and flows directly towards the courtyard.

Wet area (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

The inner call and order of the project is based on the sequence created by the central courtyard, the covered walkway and the classrooms. The courtyard holds the expansion of the interior spaces. The covered walkway provides shelter protecting from the rain and sun, as well as creating an intermediate space that finally becomes a living façade.

Walkway box (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

The classrooms receive the natural light and ventilation from the butterfly section of the roof shape, which allows for side openings and cross ventilation, as well as controlled sun radiation.

The exterior facades with quiet colours contrast with the inside bright colours of the courtyard, where colourful windows float over a wave arround the pirate playground, in a joyfull way to reflect the coastal living of the city.

Windows (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

Multipurpose (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

Walkway (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

Courtyard view (Images Courtesy Wieland Gleich)

Tags: Cape Town, South Africa

Categories: ArchiCAD, School

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