Site
Pescadero is a farming and ranching community near the pescadero marsh, approximately 2 miles east of state route 1 and pescadero state beach. The area is also known for fog as evidenced by the Pacific Coast Fog Fest in nearby Pacifica.
The Pescadero/La Honda School District initiated a bond measure to fund school renovation and construction in 2006. After demolishing an existing elementary school and replacing it with modular trailers, which were determined to not meet relevant codes, construction was halted and the school board president was forced to resign. Construction of a new high school and middle school is underway. The elementary school has run out of funding, however, and now it is left with unusable classrooms and an inaccessible school playground.
The proposal shown here sets out to showcase a way to modify the modular classrooms to meet code, incorporate elements of play into the classrooms and surrounding structure, and harness the unique environment of the region to enact sustainable measures that serve a dual purpose as an educational display.
Site Proposal
The project proposal sets forth a vision that utilizes modular classrooms to redefine the site into a campus that allows central circulation zones, play zones, and gathering spaces.
Libraries, Art Rooms, and Computer Labs reuse existing spaces, while coupled classrooms develop age specific zones and gather together other site elements.
Classroom Proposal
The Classrooms seek to develop the core principals of increasing connection to the outside while also providing more storage and flexibility to the classrooms. Each coupled classroom incorporates a “Green Zone” in between that becomes an infrastructural spine (incorporating grey water, electrical, plumbing, and fire sprinkler systems), as well as a means of connecting the two classrooms into a larger space. The connection of the classrooms also allows parts of the two independent classrooms to maintain an identity as fixed and more individually oriented, while the central space is fluid and relates to a larger campus development of fluidly placed site furniture.
The two classrooms increase storage elements both inside and outside (as students were already leaving coats and bags on the outside of their classrooms), while increasing natural daylight.
The central “Green Zone” is mainly a steel construction with cement fiberboard panels. A series of fog catchers produce a dynamic roof element to each classroom couple, while the area below them incorporates clerestories and a water retention system that allows moisture from the fog to be released incrementally to water the green roof. The “Green Zone” also incorporates a series of large bi-fold doors that can be closed for soundproofing and sinks for science and art projects.
The outside stairs are developed to incorporate seating and play elements, as well as provide an amphitheater-like space.
Design Process:
Investigations and design studies were conducted in teams and individually. The blog, http://openarchitecturechallengesf.blogspot.com/ was instrumental in communication with each other as well as in documenting the process.
