December 10, 2018

Last month, on November 20, an innovative school complex in Brazil called Children Village (Moradias Infantis in Portuguese) won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Prize. The biennial International Prize goes to a new building that “exemplifies design excellence and architectural ambition and delivers meaningful social impact.” RIBA, a professional body for the advancement of architecture, was founded in London, England, in 1834.

Children Village, a new school complex on the edge of the rain forest in northern Brazil, was awarded the RIBA International Prize in November 2018. Credit: © Cristobal Palma/Estudio Palma/RIBA

Brazil’s Aleph Zero and Rosenbaum architectural groups collaborated to create Children Village in the remote village of Canuanã on the edge of the Amazon rain forest in northern Tocantins state. While designing and building the school, the architects and designers had to consider the area’s steamy climate, and they worked closely with the students who would be living in the complex as well as with the children’s families and local trades workers. Children Village is one of 40 rural schools funded by the Bradesco Foundation, a charitable arm of Brazil’s Banco Bradesco.

Children Village boarding school serves 540 students aged 13 to 18 in a remote agricultural region near the municipality of Formoso do Araguaia. Opened in 2017, the school is made almost entirely from locally sourced brick and timber. A giant canopy shades the 251,000 square foot (23,300 square meter) complex’s two open-sided levels, each supported by wooden beams and perforated, breathable walls that allow for ample cross-ventilation. No air conditioning is needed, even in 113 °F (45 °C) heat. Central classrooms and activity spaces open onto balconies, courtyards, walkways, and two large dormitories.

In 2016, the inaugural RIBA International Prize was awarded to Ireland’s Grafton Architects for their outstanding university building, UTEC (Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología) in Lima, Peru.