University campus in Tortosa

The project for the new school campus emerged from a competitive call, won by the joint proposal of architects Josep Ferrand and the Ravetllat Ribas Arquitectes studio. The proposed complex combines the needs of four schools under a star-shaped mass.
The cumbersome floor plans of the individually horizontally layered floors and their overall composition are unified by the homogeneity of the façade. At first glance, the object stands out precisely because of this element, the heavy concrete façade with a greenish-gray hue. Vertical concrete stripes are interwoven in a wavy manner. The achieved effect also references the tradition of weaving wicker baskets, a persistent craft of this Catalan locality. The window openings of the object that do not fit into the composition of the façade remain unacknowledged, hidden, yet simultaneously illuminated by the perforations in the façade. The object is situated between the riverbank and the center of Tortosa. The individual floors of the three-story building decrease and recede in height.
Operationally, the volume of the building is efficiently used based on the principle of a star-shaped arrangement of communication spaces. The core of the complex is the intersection of these corridors in the center of the building, featuring a staircase and a skylight that extends throughout the entire height of the building. The corridors widen towards the center of the layout, contributing to a smooth flow, efficiency, and operational accessibility of the individual spaces.
The first floor houses service operations. The connection between the interior and the green environment of the exterior park is accentuated by the green paint on the interior walls. The second floor is almost entirely utilized for classrooms of various sizes and equipment. The third and smallest above-ground floor consists of administrative offices.