This school, designed for Pies Descalzos Foundation is located on the top of Loma del Peye Mountain within the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. More than an educational building, the project seeks to provoke the consolidation of the neighborhood and improve the life of residents by generating alternatives for personal and community development as well as an environmental transformation of the area. The project has already become an architectural and urban landmark and an object of pride for the community.
The design of the building is based on a sequence of three intersected hexagons. Each hexagon defines a two level perimeter with a central patio. The hexagon contours define a perimeter circulation and contain the school’s program. On the other hand, the covered patios have a variety of trees and plant species that create a micro-weather, giving each a specific character and disposition for different activities to take place. The vegetation selected will also attract the presence of native animals, encouraging the development of an ecological education. The architecture is a space of belonging, light and calm.