ARCHITECTURE, SPACE AND COLOR: THE DESIGN OF SCHOOLS IN MADRID IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The aim of this paper is to establish if pedagogical methodologies are related to the design of architectural space in the schools which have been built in Madrid in the last years, and if so, which is the importance of color. The analysis reveals some common features, that are studied to find a frame that could be used more effectively for new developments.

Shape and color of façades might be traced back to previous 19th or 20th century designs, but it seems to be a part of changing patterns. Still, some schools prefer a neutral architectonic background of interior spaces, to be able to attract the attention of children with colorful superficial fittings and furniture, related with the different activities they perform each day, each week, each month, each year. Decoration around them changes continually and curiosity is oriented towards those objects they are using and playing with.

Trying to find why there are such differences, texts with pedagogic approaches to color perception are compared with what can be found in schools. Some approaches to the ideas of the architects who designed the buildings or their clients are used to explain why the author thinks they achieved some of the results we can appreciate in the architecture.

The paper use data and results from some primary schools, showing the evolution of some basic but important features, and draws some preliminary conclusions, with some ideas for further research.