Benfica Kindergarten / DNSJ.arq

Architects: DNSJ.arq
Area: 7589 ft²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Carolina Delgado
Manufacturers: GRAPHISOFT, Sika, CIN, Cinca, Cortizo, Ikea, JNF, Lusomatec, Sanindusa, Sanitana, Soleco, Velux, Weber
Lead Architects: Nuno Simões, Sérgio Rebelo
Collaborators: Daniela Mastrogiacomo, João Barreto, José Fernandes, Luis Rodrigues
Specialties: Espaço Energia
Structure: LNM, engenharia civil
Landscape Architecture: Manuel Pacheco, Rosa Ávila
Program: Education
City: Lisbon
Country: Portugal

Benfica Kindergarten renovation project designed by DNSJ.arq in Lisbon, Portugal upgraded a 1995 building by improving structural performance, renewing infrastructure, enhancing accessibility, and increasing fire safety. The design reinforced the original volumetry through a monochrome treatment across walls, roofs, and openings, unifying the building within a disordered urban context. Functional changes included relocating the staircase to an external volume, reorganizing rooms by wing, and enclosing galleries with glazed systems for protected circulation. The roof’s basement level was converted into support spaces with daylighting and ventilation. A new covered transition area connects the street to a central atrium and cafeteria access, while a translucent polycarbonate canopy partially shelters the playground.

The renovation of the Benfica Kindergarten, a building originally constructed in 1995, aimed to enhance its overall performance by addressing structural issues, upgrading infrastructure networks, improving accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility, and strengthening safety conditions, particularly in terms of fire protection.

Volumetric reinforcement of the existing building focused on enhancing its urban presence by emphasizing the original simple form. This was achieved through a monochrome treatment of the entire volume, distinguishing the facility from the surrounding visually disorganized urban context.

A unitary treatment was proposed for the entire complex through the use of a single shade applied to walls, roofs, and openings. This approach blurred the boundaries between different surfaces and created a cohesive, unified appearance for the building.

To maximize the existing spatial potential, the following strategies were implemented:

The staircase was placed in a new exterior volume connected to the atrium, allowing its addition to the building with minimal intrusion on the original structure.
Each wing was functionally differentiated by locating the activity rooms and their respective toilet and storage areas at the ends, while the central zone was designated for staff areas, the kitchen, dining spaces, and vertical circulation to the upper floor.
The covered gallery on the south and east sides was enclosed with a glazed system, creating a sheltered perimeter circulation route that improves access comfort.
The basement beneath the roof in both wings was adapted to accommodate support rooms with toilets. New roof openings provided adequate natural lighting and ventilation, and each wing was given a direct external exit.
A transitional zone between the street and the building was created, replacing the former canopy. This area now serves as a covered recreation and outdoor waiting space, providing access to a distributor atrium that connects to the new interior corridors and the relocated staircase with access to the cafeteria.
Part of the play area was covered with a transparent surface made of honeycomb polycarbonate sheets, allowing natural light to enter while providing weather protection.