The exterior of the Travagliato school gymnasium, emerging from the building towards the courtyard.

With the extension of the school in Travagliato, in the province of Brescia, a new building with a gymnasium was built.

The school building, owned by the municipality and subject to Superintendency of Architectural Heritage, was no longer sufficient and adequate to accommodate all the functions and classrooms required to meet the demands of the citizens. Below is the report by the designer, arch. Paolo Belloni.

The static problems of an existing portion of the building constructed in the 1980s required urgent demolition and subsequent construction of the new building.

The classrooms, in addition to being structurally inadequate, did not meet the required dimensional standards, and the lack of space for the refectory and adequate places for students’ physical activity accentuated the urgency of intervention.

The extension of the Travagliato school therefore includes twelve new classrooms, three laboratories, a gymnasium with associated changing rooms, and a dining hall with kitchen and storage space.

On the first floor, above the gymnasium, directly open to the distribution areas, there is also a small auditorium for informal teaching, meetings and collective activities, this space is directly connected to a large outdoor terrace.

The gymnasium of the school in Travagliato is characterised by its yellow rubber floor and by the treatment of the walls with portions of exposed concrete, some of which have been treated with a black pigment, others with red pigment and others covered with sound-absorbing panels, which are also present on the ceiling.

This combination of elements contributes to a unique compositional language that lends richness and dynamism to the space.

The double-height volume of the gymnasium extends into the space of the upper floor, allowing visitors to the corridors to enjoy a view of the playing field through a large window.

From this point, the gaze is then led towards the glazing on the lower level overlooking the inner courtyard, creating visual and spatial continuity between the indoor and outdoor spaces

From above, left to right: ground floor, first floor and basement;
north elevation and courtyard elevation of the school in Travagliato (Bs)