Prize-winning dog school
Educan in Madrid by Eeestudio and Lys Villalba
© Javier de Paz García
With Educan, Enrique Espinosa of Eeestudio and Lys Villalba have used recycled shipping containers to create a colourful school for people and animals alike. The dog school, which is located west of Madrid, aims to support the local ecosystem and give new life to the arid landscape on the edge of the Spanish capital. To this purpose, Espinosa and Villalba have combined various materials, emphasized regionality and attempted to reduce waste to a minimum.
© Javier de Paz García
The ground floor of the building is made of in-situ concrete. With a hull of surplus corrugated sheeting and round windows, the architects have taken up the rippled design of the old containers used on the upper level. Large sliding doors, benches and other bespoke metal elements by local artisans complete the structure.
Animal symbiosis
In Spanish, the name Educan stands for the training of our canine friends. However, the rather unconventional school building is also devoted to other species as well. While the ground floor features 300 m² for dog training, sports and a communal space for owners, the upper level is strictly for the birds.
© José Hevia
Birds enter via openings in the façade to reach their nesting places and fill the roof space with life and twittering. Along with sparrows and swifts, the school is home to falcons, owls and bats. Our feathered friends also inhabit the façade itself and the striking Educan lettering. While the insects eaten by the birds aid in pollinating the surrounding fields, they can also transmit dog diseases. Rainwater is scarce here: it is collected in drinking troughs so that all the inhabitants of Educan can quench their thirst.
© José Hevia
© José Hevia
Colourful, animal-friendly interior design
The new building does not diffidently fit into its surroundings. Rather, it stands out: the architecture duo have done the Educan dog school completely in bright colours. The pastel green, grey and blue of the façades are topped off with bright yellow and orange accents in the training areas. The interior spaces were made for animals. Soft floors protect the dogs’ paws and joints, slats provide shelter from the hot summer sun, and the average eye height of half a metre is adapted to a canine scale.
© José Hevia
In order to prevent distractions in the spaces, the internal openings are set higher, while foam cladding in the attic space reduces sound and echo – perfect conditions for the harmonious coexistence of people, animals and nature.
Architecture: Enrique Espinosa (Eeestudio), Lys Villalba
Client: Adiestramiento Educan
Location: Vereda de Sacedón, S/N, 28690 Brunete (ES)
Structural engineering: Mecanismo
Steel construction: Miguel Torrejón
Contractor: Servicios Integrales Alji
Building services engineering: Alberto Espinosa
Gallery
These articles might also interest you
-
An aluminum pavilion at the V&A Museum in London
Between Forests and Skies by Nebbia Works
On the occasion of the 2021 London Design Festival, Nebbia Works have erected a 9 x 13.50-metre pavilion in the courtyard of London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. It consists of a single material: solid recycled aluminum.
-
An annular pedway
Pedestrian Bridge by Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen
The annular pedestrian bridge known as Tondo spans the Leuvensweg in the centre of Brussels.
-
Revitalization in Tuscany
Mario Cucinella Architects Design Cultural Centre
The Palazzo Senza Tempo by Italian studio Mario Cucinella Architects brings new life to Tuscany. With its cantilevered terrace, the cultural building fits into the historic surroundings.