The site is situated at the edge of the most urbanised part of the city, at the south-west limit, where the characteristic hills around Bologna begin to rise. The school was conceived precisely in relation to these spaces, which are so important to the identity of the community: a “node” about to dissolve, projected toward the surrounding environment.
Resting on the slope and adapting to the different opportunities this offers, the design identifies formal and functional solutions that maximise relations with the exterior. The hinge of this metaphoric opening is the agora, the point of encounter not only between different classes, but also between school and city, city and park and the world of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens. The plaza is the architectural element that reconnects the school with the fabric of the neighbourhood and other public and private functions present here. Concave and convex forms also permit the best possible use of the outdoor areas, minimising the footprint and optimising available open spaces for outdoor activities. The school is subdivided into three levels adapted to the topography: the entry level opens up to establish a dialogue with the other school present on the site, where public space (currently used for parking) serves as a point of connection and interaction with the entire neighbourhood.
The upper level hosting the secondary school defines the elevations facing the city and extends toward the park. The clearing offers a natural support point and helps establish a direct relationship with nature thanks to a volume that crosses uninterrupted over the foot-cycle path to create a “portal” between the city and the hillside landscape. The upper level, benefiting from a gentle slope hosting an amphitheatre, connects the city with nature and creates spaces for physical activity that augment the offering of sports facilities.
