La Cancha: Where Education and Sport Converge | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

El Níspero is a Black community with ancestral ties to Angola, giving it a rich cultural heritage and a strong sense of identity. However, throughout its history, it has faced numerous challenges related to armed conflict, leading to displacement and significant social, political, and economic struggles.

The project is located on the northern side of the community, near El Campo and in close proximity to the new school. This site presents various opportunities and advantages, as it remains undeveloped, is surrounded by vegetation, and lies within the recently expanded urban area of the community. Designed as a complement to both the soccer field and the school, the project provides spaces for sports and recreational activities, along with classrooms that promote a practical education centered around the culture of sports.

Design Process

An analysis of several photographs of the site revealed two recurring elements: the soccer goal and the tree. From various perspectives, the soccer goal, beyond its primary function in the game, appeared to frame different elements such as a tree, a person, the horizon, and other significant subjects.

At this point, the soccer goal was observed with greater depth and attention, beyond its obvious role in soccer. Recognizing its potential to frame and emphasize certain elements, it was associated with the concept of a threshold, drawing from the definition provided by Italian photographer Luigi Ghirri. He describes a threshold not only as the transition between the street and the interior but also as a metaphorical boundary between what is thought, what is seen, what can be seen, what must be seen, and ultimately, what is actually seen (Ghirri, 1990).

Guided by this interpretation, the project was shaped around this concept, envisioning a space that, like the soccer goal, would function as a threshold for El Níspero. This threshold aims to establish both tangible and intangible connections between the community and the horizon, education, the culture of sports, progress, and opportunity. Through the strategic arrangement of architectural elements, visual frames are created to highlight and emphasize the three fundamental pillars of the project: education, sports, and the horizon as a symbol of future possibilities.

Final Outcome

The project proposes two large walls that not only define and organize the space but also establish it as a threshold connecting El Campo, the horizon, and the street. This effect is reinforced by rotating one of the walls, creating a visual cue that subtly directs users’ attention toward the horizon and the idea of opportunity.

With these walls in place, a central axis was introduced to serve as both a circulation path and a visual extension of El Campo. By aligning with the soccer goals, this axis enhances their significance, assigning them a symbolic value they previously lacked. Together, the walls and the central circulation route create both a physical and visual connection between the community, Montes de María, and El Campo.

Beyond spatial organization, these regulating walls also serve a bioclimatic function. With a total thickness of 1.2 meters, they have the capacity to store approximately 187.6m³ (or 187,600 liters) of water. The sloped roofs direct rainwater toward the large walls, enhancing water collection. To achieve this, the roof is made of a concrete slab using a collaborative decking system, ensuring durability and resistance to oxidation and contamination—issues common with zinc roofing. A waterproofing layer further optimizes water collection efficiency.

The project follows a longitudinal layout, with its longer sides facing north and south, while the shorter sides are exposed to morning and afternoon sunlight, improving bioclimatic performance. The folding, sloped roofs consistently direct water to the large walls, which also serve as storage for collected rainwater. This roof-wall interaction creates three distinct spaces, with the walls acting as transition points between them.

Many of the spaces incorporate modular enclosures with folding doors that open upwards. This design allows for flexible, open areas that seamlessly integrate with their surroundings while still providing the option to create enclosed spaces when needed.

Conclusion: This project unites sports, education, and community through architecture, creating a threshold that connects El Níspero to opportunity and progress. By integrating sustainable design and fostering a culture of learning, it strengthens identity and paves the way for a brighter future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]