Adell e Porto Arquitetura was tasked with modernizing and updating Inspire College in São Paulo, Brazil.

The School Inspire, with the aim of renovating and modernizing the existing facilities in its annex, called us to carry out this retrofit project and adapt the facilities to the new program. Keeping the external body of the building and few internal walls, the project seeks to completely reformulate the existing layout and look. We took the visual language of the school’s logo as an architectural approach and explored its colors and shapes in several decorative elements. The building’s facade received brises in the existing structure, with the school’s colors, which filter sunlight with perforated metal sheets. Seeking the visual integration of the internal spaces, we created glass openings on the walls of the classrooms towards the corridor; with this feature we also broke the linearity and confinement of the corridor, as it we can now see the inside of the rooms and windows to the outside. Lighting was also another important resource, making circulation a more fun environment. The furniture was designed to encourage learning and coexistence among children, through bleachers and niches that allow different dynamics. During the design process, we also thought about possible adaptations for the future: We divided the project into two phases, so that it is possible to include new classrooms in the layout, in case the school needs to accommodate a larger number of students in the future.

The great challenge of this project was to overcome the physical limits and the difficulty in adapting the new program to the existing structure, so that building became part of the school, bringing identity and modernity to the space. The general shape of the building did not allow for major innovations, but the precast structure and the roof with metal trusses allowed us to change the entire interior and use colors, shapes, and furniture to give life and completely transform that environment. In this way, students can now enjoy spaces that inspire the learning process with great comfort and creativity.

Design: Adell e Porto Arquitetura
Photography: Amanda Zimmerman, Claudia Porto