© João Morgado
Paço de Arcos, on the coast of Portugal west of Lisbon, has transformed itself over the past decades from a fishing village to a dormitory town built into the hillside. The layout of the school complex – consisting of individual atrium structures – and the rough concrete facades recall a type of school architecture that was common in Portugal in the 1980s.
Even today, after its refurbishment and extension, the development makes no reference to the multistorey housing blocks and individual villas in the area. The architectural measures were focused on reorganizing the school grounds and unifying the extensive terraced volume.
Even today, after its refurbishment and extension, the development makes no reference to the multistorey housing blocks and individual villas in the area. The architectural measures were focused on reorganizing the school grounds and unifying the extensive terraced volume.