Vimenti School
The Vimenti School at the Ramos Antonini Public Housing Project, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico as an educational, social, and economic development project for their community. It provides services to children, youth, and adults with the aim of improving their lives in a comprehensive and integrated way. The project was designed by hacedor:maker/arquitectos, led by its Principal, José Fernando Vázquez-Pérez, AIA, and Marvel served as the landscape architect of the project. The work included all exterior spaces, interior patios, green roofs, green walls, and urban agriculture plots.
Early concept for the Vimenti site and buildings. The landscape plays an important role in creating the best environment for learning through outdoor activities.
The formal entrance to the School manages the complexity of intersecting vehicular and pedestrian circulation, while also managing stormwater through green infrastructure and providing a celebratory moment with lush palm trees.
The interior patio formed by the main buildings is the heart of the campus. The eastern bar, however, is raised on columns, providing visual connection with the rest of the campus.
Mature, existing trees have been preserved and integrated into the flowing, transparent, interior patio space.
The interior patio includes custom designed playground elements that bring the students closer to nature.
Marvel collaborated with the Architect in the design of green roofs throughout the project. These are early concepts for the green roofs, which were conceived as habitable spaces.
The project also includes green walls that integrate nature deep into buildings. The green walls perform multiple functions, including providing visual interest, cleaner air, and cooler interiors.