The project is developed by leaning north toward XXXI October Street to connect the entire complex with the city. Its insertion close to the street occurs at a lower elevation so as not to obstruct the perception of the surrounding landscape. The new parking lot inserted at sub-street level provides convenient access to both the historic center and the new school complex via a pleasant stepped path through terraces and urban gardens. Indeed, it is the terraced landscape of vegetable gardens and allotments typical of these valleys that inspired the idea behind the project. The new buildings, characterized by heights of one or at most two stories above ground, house a system of paths and green roofs on the roof: the objective is not only to improve the thermal insulation of the roof package, but also the encouragement of the visual continuity that is perceived from the north, in the alternation between paths, green areas and terraces characteristic of mountain agriculture.
The mesh of greenery on the roof of the two schools and the new gymnasium and on the outdoor areas also become an opportunity for pupils to touch upon the local agricultural tradition, trying their hand at growing small gardens, both inside and beyond school hours. Some of the terraces, moreover, are created with the idea of a pilot project of urban gardens available to the community, with a view to self-management and teamwork aimed at the preservation and development of agricultural products and local best practices.
The entire complex has been conceived as a machine that remains alive beyond school hours, thus configuring itself as a new urban node, a meeting space for the entire community, suitable for hosting cultural events, sports, and workshops. Some buildings, such as the gymnasium and library, are in fact accessible to anyone outside school hours: in this way, the school becomes a social space once again. Similarly, paths and uncovered spaces, intended exclusively for pedestrian use, also create a mesh of connections between Mel’s historic center, the new volumes used for public interest functions, existing green spaces and new vegetable gardens.
