Following the matrix of the nearby industrial installations, the building complex is organised in the shape of a comb, which lends itself to the original terraced structure of the terrain. This perpendicular system has a covered porch as its base that organises the paths between the different units, offering a protected, though open, atmosphere, thus taking advantage of the local climatic conditions. The principal porch-corridor interrelates the different teaching units, administrative offices and sports areas that, distributed in an alternating way in order to respect the existing trees, define a sequence of open spaces which structures the complex around the empty space.
The different teaching areas receive natural, homogeneous and indirect, neutral lighting through the continuous glazed surface that comprises the northeast façade of the modules.
The system of circulation routes, on the other hand, faces southwest, and is linked to a system of alternating vertical ‘mullions’ of reinforced concrete, whose play of light and shadow is projected onto the continued coloured surfaces that form the corridors.
Project Marina Cebrián Secondary School
Situation Calle Candelaria s/n, Taco. La Laguna, Tenerife. Canary Islands. Spain
Arquitects GPY Arquitectos
Project Team Juan Antonio González Pérez, Félix Francisco Perera Pérez, Urbano Yanes Tuña, Constanze Sixt
Technical Team José Domingo Bethencourt Gallardo
Civil Engineers Gpi Ingenieros
Layout Miriam Hernández Pérez
Client Canary Islands Regional Government: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
Contract Construcciones Waldo S.A.
Constructed Surface 6.286,51 m2
Photographs José Ramón Oller, Joaquín Ponce de León
Awards Bienal Miami+Beach, 2005: Honourable Mention | Premio de Arquitectura Española, 2005: Finalist | Premios FAD, 2004: Finalist | Premio Manuel de Oráa y Arcocha, XIth Edition, 2004: Mention.
Publicactions Libros: Ruiz Cabrero, Gabriel: Guía de Arquitectura Contemporánea / Contemporary Architecture Guide 1962-2006. Tenerife. Tenerife: Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, 2008. 10x10_2. 100 Architects 10 Critics. London / New York: Phaidon, 2005. Revistas: Basa n.28 (2005), On Diseño n.252 (2004), Pasajes n.66 (2005), Temas de Arquitectura. Arquitectura Escolar 3 (2007), Promateriales n.12 (2008)