The simplicity of pine painted stark white gives this rebuilt school in Chile a bright, welcoming look and feel to bring cheer back to the neighborhood after much of it was destroyed by a major earthquake in 2010. The school lost half its facilities in the disaster, leading Constitucion city officials to order a major overhaul and extension from LAND Arquitectos.
The architecture firm chose pine not only because it’s a local material, making it inexpensive and eco-friendly, but also to encourage the use of wood in architecture throughout the city as it continues to be rebuilt. The use of all white and design of the columns gives it a sunny Mediterranean atmosphere.
In addition to adding extra classrooms, the architects built a new chapel with an asymmetric roof that mimics local rock formations seen along the coast.
“We used local pine wood as the main material for the project and furnishings, promoting and encouraging the use of wood in reconstruction of the city,” the architects say. “We wanted to rebuild the city’s identity using materials that are locally accessible and easily replicable building techniques.”
