https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/2048 en-us Established in Rio de Janeiro’s northern neighborhood of Tijuca in 1973, the MOPI school was planning to open a facility in the rapidly growing Barra region to the west.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11402 Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11402-the-mopi-school The MOPI School Sitting on top of reused wood from electricity poles, the building’s oxidized copper facade is supported by beams of laminated eucalyptus and evokes the nearby rain forest. The use of copper panels with small perforations allows for airflow yet still provides shelter from sun and rain. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School The building comprises four elliptical volumes built in three phases, with an emphasis on maintaining its architectural coherence. Curving external ramps and balconies reveal stunning mountain views at the back of the building. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School The building comprises four elliptical volumes built in three phases, with an emphasis on maintaining its architectural coherence. The gym clad with a perforated aluminum composite that blends with the copper, was part of the third phase. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School The building comprises four elliptical volumes built in three phases, with an emphasis on maintaining its architectural coherence. The gym clad with a perforated aluminum composite that blends with the copper, was part of the third phase. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School Playful colors serve as a location device throughout the building. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School Playful colors serve as a location device throughout the building, while channel glass is used in most classrooms to maximize daylight inside the building. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School To ensure accessibility for physically disabled students, the architects employed a series of color- coded ramps. The building’s one staircase was mandated by the city fire codes. Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School Façade detail Photo © Leonardo Finotti The MOPI School Longitudinal Sections A-A and B-B Image courtesy Mareines+Patalano THE MOPI SCHOOL Ground-Level Plan Image courtesy Mareines+Patalano The MOPI School Second-Level Plan Image courtesy Mareines+Patalano The MOPI School Third-Level Plan Image courtesy Mareines+Patalano The MOPI School Street Elevation Image courtesy Mareines+Patalano