building view from the garden
The “Green Classroom” was conceived as an urban ecology center for a neglected forest area nested between two government housing projects in San Juan. Working as an outdoors classroom connected to the Angeles Custodios School, the building provides a space with a variety of features such as a butterfly vivarium and nursery, a 3,000 square meters forest with gardens with natural and artificial pools, a laboratory and classroom space. Other than being an ecological heart for the area, the project has a solid social and economic agenda of promoting the development of careers of former convicts and other community groups that have been marginalized by traditional economic development methods.
vegetation surrounding the building
The project is housed in a simple building that utilizes a great variety of strategies in order to be in harmony with its surroundings. Designed by Toro- Ferrer Architects in 2004, the two story building functions as a water collecting system that supplies water for most needs of the project.
fly-ash concrete wall
fly-ash concrete wall
An interesting fact of this building is that it was built with fly-ash concrete – making the structure much cooler and stronger than with the typical product. This technology was used for ecological reasons (to keep air conditioning to the minimum), but also to prevent butterflies (which don’t like cool air) from coming into the building.
custom wood window - from main office
custom wood window - from main office
The space is also surrounded by custom wood windows that open completely to easily integrate the classrooms and offices to the outdoors. The firm also wanted to enhance the cooling properties of the material by surrounding many areas of the building walls with vegetation. When the building was designed, the architects made sure that it was oriented in a manner to capture area trade winds and avoid direct sun exposure. The design also considered the existing wetland landscape to ensure a minimal effect on the fragile ecosystem surrounding the building. To visit to Aula Verde have to be done with previous appointment. To visit, call 787-281-7763
This project received an honorable mention at the IX Architecture Bienal and the AIA.
Click here for a video of Aula Verde.
