A Multi-Species Colourful School ‘Educan’, Designed By Two Spanish Architects In Madrid

Eeestudio founders Enrique Espinosa and Lys Villalba, design a school 30 kilometers west of Madrid, with the ideology of biodiversity in mind. Educan, is an eye-catching training centre with a multi-species approach to its architecture. Along with humans, dogs and other companion species such as birds, bats, etc live and learn together in this building to support the natural ecosystem of the local area. “Sitting amongst fields, in a rural environment transformed over recent decades by urban development and intensive pesticide-reliant agriculture, Educan is trialing ways to recover the conditions of the ecosystem,” said Villalba. The aim was to create a space that helps nature to thrive. Small birds and bats feed on insects such as mosquitos that potentially carry canine diseases, and also contribute to the pollination cycles of flowers and plants. The birds of prey also feed on rodents to regulate their population for the benefit of crops and local flora.

The proportion of Educan is of a warehouse, constructed from shipping containers recycled to adaptability. It is organized over a storey, which is majorly divided into three spaces: a training area, a classroom and a reception area with kitchen and toilet facilities. The floors are adapted to dog paws in theory classrooms which are finished in semi-polished, exposed aggregate concrete made of river pebbles, and the training classrooms have PTE-based synthetic turf. There is a pyramid foam insulation that caters to soundproofing against loud barks and the windows are positioned at heights to suit dogs and trainers. The high ceilings create cozy perches for resident birds, with each species having its own dedicated nesting area. Combining different building techniques, the structure integrates rain-water harvesting which is directed into troughs for animals, automated air-conditioning systems, and manual bioclimatic control elements like perforated shutters or roller blinds to offer shade. Educan holistically has a vibrant colour palette that includes shades of red, yellow, blue and mint green. These colours bring about uniformity to heavy textured industrial elements like corrugated metal, steel beams, and exposed service ducts.“Educan is an experiment that demonstrates how agricultural architecture can also be a place of exploration and architectural innovation,” added Villalba.