Initiatives / Experiments / Visions
MY SCHOOL CAN BE COOL
Project description
„My school can be cool” is a project involving 7th grade students from Gerhardinum Roman Catholic Theological High School in Timisoara for improving their school space. The project started in the autumn of 2019 with the analysis of existing spaces and student’s needs. The proposals were voted by students according to: which minimal intervention will bring most benefits for the whole school? In December 2019, the four teams – The Superiors, The Knights, H2GO and Nature’s Children – presented to colleagues and teachers their proposals and raised money for the materials needed for the school 3D model. On 11th March 2020 the Romanian schools were closed. On 27th March we began online meetings with students and architects. This was the only project in the program that continued during lockdown. We investigated the geographical and historical specificity of the location, the style of the buildings and the type of their users. In May, landscape architects joined the team. They helped to do an inventory of existing vegetation and to understand the cultural dimension of the landscape. Looking for contemporary examples and studying vintage photographs pupils detailed their proposals for the improvement of the courtyard. The 12 proposals were again evaluated, in terms of implementation criteria: high impact on school life, number of beneficiaries, low cost and effort - does not require a building permit, the ability to involve students in its construction, an example to be followed by other schools, the architectural quality of the project. The proposal to expand the existing rosary with a sensory garden of aromatic plants and the construction of removable benches under trees won the contest. The proposals were presented to the school management and administrators and received the approval for the technical project. We are waiting for you at the building site! After the intervention, the project will continue with school diagnostic workshops for students in other schools, a workshop about classroom arrangement for teachers, an international conference and the launch of the Guides' Guide. This project is part of the "De-a arhitectura in my school" program developed by De-a arhitectura* Association since 2015. It is addressed to students, teachers, parents and architects who believe that the school space matters, both during school years and later in life. *De-a arhitectura is a play on words that means playing with architecture.
Author's presentation text
Brindusa Raluca Havasi graduated in 2002 from Faculty of Architecture Timisoara. Between 2002-2014 collaborated as assistant professor in Faculty of Architecture Design workshop for years I, II and VI. In 2010-2011 Brindusa completed the psycho-pedagogical courses of DPPD in Politehnica University. In 2011 she enrolled in a PhD program with the subject „Architecture and children. Space as an educational medium”, and presented her thesis to the public in June 2020. In between 2013-2016 Brindusa worked as a volunteer in „De-a arhitectura în orașul meu” and „De-a arhitectura în școala mea” programes. Since 2018 she is regional coordinator within the De-a arhitectura Association. Presently she works full time coordinating the project My school can be cool.
