Trueba

Following a preliminary competition phase, the Material Resources Directorate of the Construction Service of the Basque Government’s Department of Education, Language Policy and Culture commissioned the design and construction of a roof over the playground at Antonio Trueba School in Portugalete.
The project also included the refurbishment of the toilets and the installation of an accessible lift to ensure full accessibility throughout the school.
The completed solution consists of a steel structure formed by four frames, supported along the line of the existing boundary wall and arranged parallel to the existing structural grid of the building, adjacent to the façade.

A grid of purlins spans between the main frames, supporting the roof itself. The upper layer consists of self-supporting solid polycarbonate panels, designed to channel rainwater while minimising the noise caused by rainfall. A second, flat lower layer of multiwall polycarbonate provides a durable finish capable of withstanding ball impacts.
The properties of polycarbonate allow natural light to reach the play area while also ensuring adequate daylight to the spaces located on the ground floor of the school.
The roof structure itself defines the perimeter, incorporating a distinctive architectural element that helps renew the identity and perception of the school at pedestrian level.