Escuela Primaria Emiliano Zapata by Alberto Kalach
Mexico
Led by Alberto Kalach, Mexico City–based Taller de Arquitectura X has just completed an elementary school in the small town of Higuerón, about 90 miles due south of the capital, in Jojutla, one of the municipalities hit hardest by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that killed hundreds in 2017.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
Escuela Primaria Emiliano Zapata is a single-story structure containing 12 classrooms and additional media spaces around two central courtyards, for 120 students, ages 6 to 12.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
Kalach designed the structure as a series of poured-in-place concrete arches. He points out that arches are “inherently stronger” in resisting seismic activity than post-and-beam constructions and are well suited for this type of facility, which was built in a year’s time, for just over $1.5 million.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
The 24,000-square-foot building combines concrete, wood, and brick.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
Classrooms open to the courtyards.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
There are a number of other outdoor spaces, including the cafeteria, where the children can buy lunch from a local cooperative and dine under the arches.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
Spiraling stairs on one end, and a ramp on the other, lead to the rooftop play area, located there because of the tight site.
Photo © Jaime Navarro
Architects & Firms
Alberto Kalach designed a school in Mexico to replace one destroyed in the 2017 earthquake. Click through the slideshow above to read more about this project.
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