Los Cachimanes Primary school, Spain

Fig.1

The need for a new local school, situated in the middle of the arid plains of Torre- Pacheco, South-eastern Spain, allowed the perfect opportunity for the Spanish architectural firm Estudio Huma to design in an environment that was the ‘Ultimate blank canvas’. The result is a radical design consisting of two single story buildings surrounding a sandy playing area (see figure.1). Its jutting, geometric structure is coated in artificial grass (see fig.2) which provides a playful and tactile surface for interaction and play, also creating the allusion of an ‘abstract desert oasis’ that ‘nourishes its inhabitants’, in an organic environment. 

Fig.2

Here they have created a learning environment that promotes imagination and creativity and actively encourages children to interact in the space. Its exterior contrasts with the smooth concrete of the classrooms, both durable and cooling, in the Spanish summers. It also proves to be instructive, with its use of colourful symbols guiding the pupils through the space (see Fig 3). It would seem that this design is a direct response to its desert surroundings, but setting it in juxtapose with its environment, The Cachimanes project is an interesting example of design in a context that offers no positive qualities that the architects can adopt. They created an instantly recognisable landmark within a new urban development that both contrasts with its environment and, at the same time, seems to embrace a sense of fun and humour, with the use of the artificial grass which covers the school’s abstract shape.

Fig.3

In a region that is one of the driest and hottest in Spain, material choice is an important factor to consider. The desire to use real plants, previously mentioned by the project’s architect, Eduardo Garcia was out of the question. The design team had to search for alternative solutions to create the same look on a ‘shoestring budget’. The Los Cachimanes School resides in a country which is hugely experimental in its approach to architectural design, from Gaudi’s buildings in Barcelona to the iconic Madrid airport. Culturally, Spain has shown in the past and present day an acceptance and willingness to push the boundaries of architectural design. This argument is further supported by the Baix Llobregat primary school outside Barcelona, which used brightly coloured tiled facade to the main building to bring a sense of playfulness to an otherwise simple building(see fig.4). 

Fig.4 Baix Llobregat Primary School