The House in the Cloud

LOCALITA’:
Angola

COMMITTENTE:

Altay Scientific s.r.l.

PROGETTISTA:

Ing. Maurizio Tallarico

Arch. Sara Marinucci

Arch. Sara Marinucci

CRONOLOGIA:

2011 Progetto Preliminare

DESCRIZIONE:

The project involves the development of spaces dedicated tothe children for Angola school (of age 6-15 years), the design will contain built spaces for day care, education and training. The organization and development of the several functions set the perimeter of a defi ned space. This space, bordered by a shaded path, was born observing the African sky and the particular density of the clouds that characterize it. These elements get to children fascination and hope for the collective, that why the choose was to enclose the space from an abstract and geometric shape.

Forms that become building itself, fl exible, modular and changeable, set of elements that are freely made and broken up for structures that give to the users the opportunity to build their own world. Fancy places composed of closed and open spaces are crossed by paths that create fantastic shapes, like the cloud, in continuous evolution and transformation according to the varied sites of localization.

The compound will be designed by combining the linear composition with the functionality. The entire compound will be divided into four zones, each representing a function, rationally connected each other by paths, along which it possible organize both outdoor activities (recreational, sports etc..) and formative (farming, crafts etc. .). The modularity each building allows the optimization of the covered spaces, depending on the different needs that may change even during the day (teaching in the morning, training in the afternoon and entertainment in the evening).

The informative criteria

The architectural project will be designed looking at ecological and economical solutions, according to the sustainable development principles. It will be focused around fi ve main points:

  1. best equilibrium between indoor, outdoor, and outdoor shaded spaces
  2. best water resources conservation and management
  3. best structural thermal efficiency of the buildings
  4. best sunlight exposure of the classrooms
  5. use of local materials.

The integration of these elements is given from equilibrium between indoor, outdoor and outdoor shaded spaces. The simplicity of the composition came from the choice to refer the project to the climate needs and local traditions.

The relationship between empty and full surfaces will be studied to ensure a correct natural lighting, shading and ventilation. The details of the construction will be designed according to the variable relationship with sun, light and seasons, in the way to guarantee the maximum human welfare.

The proper orientation of the building, the ventilated facades and the use of alternative energy sources (photovoltaic and solar panels etc.), will be one of the basic project criteria that characterize the building sustainability.

In this context, the construction materials take an important role.

The choice of these, in fact, aims to promote the use of local materials, use of recyclable materials and use of natural and eco-compatible materials.

The choice of material and its processing will change depending on the site of the same location, materials and work systems different from the local one, will also be a way to form in a modern and correct way the local workers. This aspect could be one of the training to make in this building and form the users for a craft activities.

Moreover an effi cient management of water resources will be studied for architectural indoor solutions in the way to reduce waste of water as, for example ecological wash-basin and ecological water-closet, grey water phytodepuration to produce reusable water for garden irrigation, a technical net that will foresee a collecting rainwater system.