The extension of the Visual Arts School of Lima supposes a challenge in different issues: - The relationship between old and new. The actual building is an architectural landmark, a very good example of neo-colonial architecture of the 1930’s The addition should be respectful of the existing building but we considered it should also be a testimony for XXIst century architecture in Lima. - Cohabitation of two different building techniques.
The existing builging being built in adobe and traditional masonry, the extension structure should be independent and very light, so the decision of using prefabricated steel structure not only allowed easy intervention in the existing building, but permitted a fast intervention, so that the school could resume activities in a very short time. - Merging traditional spaces and new spaces. The traditional patio, the open space that organizes the existing building is surmounted by a similar void crossed by open skywalks that link existing staircases to match fire regulations.
These open skywalks are in steel grid floors, so natural light can get easely through to the ground floor, creating a new space where students from different specialities can use the open space and meet each other. - Giving a new image to the school. Tradition and modernity is shown clearly from the street, but tradition (the opaque existing building) is also the base for the new (weightless and transparent addition), in both literal and figurate ways. The exterior new façade recalls Cinetic Art, as the sunshades seem to change colours when moving through the street. In the interior, seen from the entrance patio, the superposed steel skywalks form a photographic diaphragm, an homage to the new career that will be incorporated to the school with the new extension.
