Architects: Guido Otero Arquitetura, Ricardo Gusmao Arquitetos
Area: 48438 ft²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Pedro Kok, Manuel Sá
Manufacturers: Day Brasil, Elevatec, Eliane, Hunter Douglas, Intercity, Keramika, Knauf, Metadil, Novidario, Pormade, San Marmore, Santiglass, Turra Engenharia, Victor Cobervickas
Lead Architects: Ricardo Gusmão, Guido Otero
Category: Educational Architecture
Coordination: Beatriz Dias
Collaboration: Clara Troia, Tomas Vannucchi, Cassio Peres, Marina Pimenta, Rubens Oliveira
Construction Company: Exequo
Structure and Installations: MODO Engenharia
Acoustics: Alexandre Sresnewski
Landscaping: Ricardo Gusmão Arquitetos e Guido Otero Arquitetura
Lighting: Ricardo Gusmão Arquitetos e Guido Otero Arquitetura
Program: Educational
City: Santos
Country: Brazil
Verde School educational building designed by Ricardo Gusmão Arquitetos and Guido Otero Arquitetura in Santos, Brazil occupies a transitional urban lot near the beach along Canal 6. The 4,500 m² structure is distributed across four levels. A covered arrival courtyard with double-height ceilings defines the ground floor, supporting recreational and cafeteria functions. The upper levels are dedicated to classrooms, labs, and art spaces organized around a central circulation zone. The construction employs precast concrete and soil-cement brick with exposed materials and installations to support didactic use and ease of maintenance. Sun protection systems include perforated metal sheets for collective areas on the ground level and horizontal brises with planters on the upper floors, reinforcing the project’s environmental responsiveness.
The new unit of Escola Verde is situated on Canal 6, just 50 meters from the beach. Beyond its coastal proximity, the site’s strategic location within the block contributed significantly to the project: it previously served as an open void between high-rise buildings oriented toward the sea and a neighborhood of houses facing the mainland. Positioned at the intersection of these contrasting urban scales, the school engages with both the canal and the sea, establishing a distinctive setting for students and the surrounding community.
The 4,500 m² building is organized across four floors. The ground level centers around a covered arrival courtyard with double ceiling height that runs longitudinally through the structure and accommodates collective functions such as recreation and the cafeteria. The first floor includes administrative areas, while the two upper levels are designated for classrooms, laboratories, and art rooms, all accessed through a spacious circulation zone. The fully open roof functions as a large terrace, offering flexible use and broad visual connections to the surrounding context, expanding opportunities for outdoor activities.
To accelerate the construction process, the project utilized precast concrete for the structural system, while the walls were built with soil-cement bricks and fitted with aluminum frames. These materials were left exposed, and together with the visible installations, they contribute to a didactic quality in the architecture and simplify maintenance. For solar protection, two shading systems were implemented: a perforated metal sheet was used on the ground floor to define collective areas, and on the upper levels, horizontal brises made of metal structures and integrated planters were installed.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: 21 Coronel Joaquim Montenegro Avenue, Aparecida, Santos, São Paulo, 11035-001, Brazil
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
