‘southern model institute’ by esteban gaffuri torrado architects in avellaneda, buenos aires all images courtesy of gustavo sosa pinilla

‘southern model institute’ by buenos aires-based esteban gaffuri torrado architects is a primary school in avellaneda, buenos aires. to meet the tight schedule of the academic year, the whole project was constructed in just 60 days.

one of the first elements that defined the design was the acquisition of 32 cm-thick concrete slabs which were originally intended for road work. the low-cost find led the team to reverse the process of structural design, where the internal order and space was defined by the material itself.

specific programs were laid out by the use of a spatial grid created by four parallel frames. on the upper floor, there is a wide central hallway with six classrooms facing the east and the west. the ground floor is largely open, allowing for easy circulation between the street entry to the back, while the cafeteria, bathrooms, computer room, and headmaster’s office are set along the north and west walls. the entrance is pushed back from the facade to create a waiting area for the parents.

another aspect of the design was the large amount of sunlight that would be pouring in due to the building’s plain east and west orientation. the solution was to attach steel grating to the facade, a material that is normally used for industrial flooring. the result is a low-cost sunscreen which remains transparent and secure.

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 2 open space on the ground floor

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 3

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 4 entry way

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 5 street facade

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 6 steel grating

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 7

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 8 night view

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 9 west facade

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 10 east facade from the courtyard

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 11 central hallway

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 12 classroom

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 13 during construction

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 14

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 15 ground level floor plan

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 16 second level floor plan

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 17 front elevation

esteban gaffuri torrado architects: southern model institute - 18 back elevation

project info:

location: avellaneda, buenos aires built area: 578 m2 design team: javier esteban, ligia gaffuri, martin torrado, mario tannenbaum, romina tannenbaum client: southern model institute structural engineer: angel santos