Futura – Giovanni Pascoli School

The new primary school of Bellaria Igea Marina is a building that speaks to its territory: compact in its rhomboid shape yet welcoming, wrapped in a skin that combines the warmth of wood with the brightness of metal. Its architecture is simple and recognizable, standing out without detaching from its surroundings, balancing city and countryside. Developed over two levels, with a roofline rising toward the city and gently descending toward the fields, it reflects the desire to engage with the landscape at different scales.

The design stems from a close reading of the site, guided by four main directions: the urban axis of Via Bellini, the agricultural grid of the centuriation, and the two tree-lined rows to the southwest. From this matrix emerges a volume shaped by subtraction, with three main entrances and learning spaces defined by softened, articulated forms. Positioned in the southern portion of the site, the school relates to the existing urban fabric while setting back from the street to create an open, welcoming frontage. To the west, it opens to the green area, preserving every existing tree. The main entrance on Via Bellini leads along a pedestrian path to the heart of the building: an organic central connective, a true functional and visual spine, alternating views of city and countryside.

The school is envisioned as a place for community. At its center lies the agora, a shared space and fulcrum of daily life, around which cafeteria, library, and laboratories are arranged. Three outdoor areas complete the design: an open-air dining space, a playground connected to the classrooms, and a civic-lab area, reinforcing its public vocation. Learning environments are flexible and inclusive. Classrooms, conceived as home-bases, can adapt to shared or inter-class activities. Equipped walls and multifunctional connective spaces host psychomotricity, screenings, or workshops, enriching the educational experience.

From an energy perspective, the school exceeds standards with centralized, easy-to-manage systems and extensive renewable sources, achieving consumption 20% lower than NZEB buildings.