Health Centre – Polo de Saúde de Évora

This proposal envisions an educational facility as an open, adaptive ecosystem—one that merges built form with landscape to support evolving models of learning, social interaction, and environmental responsibility. Rather than acting as an isolated building, the project emerges from the terrain as an extension of its natural and urban context, creating a porous and inclusive environment rooted in three guiding principles: Nature, Learning, and Sustainability. The architectural strategy is inspired by urban morphology, breaking down a monolithic mass into a series of interconnected volumes. These form a network of plazas, alleyways, and terraces—open-air spaces that extend daily life beyond the classroom. Here, formal and informal learning intertwine, encouraging dialogue, spontaneity, and collaboration. The overall composition is unified by a continuous canopy, which offers shade and shelter while visually linking the diverse programmatic components into a cohesive whole. At the center of the scheme is the Green Box, a flexible, light-filled volume that consolidates key teaching spaces, informal gathering zones, and communal functions. This spatial anchor connects directly to outdoor terraces, enabling a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor activities. It serves as a social hinge that bridges the various wings of the building while fostering a shared academic culture. The project supports contemporary education through a highly adaptable spatial layout, prioritizing openness, visibility, and intuitive circulation. Spaces are not rigidly defined; instead, they promote a multiplicity of uses and encourage self-directed engagement among students, faculty, and the broader community. Sustainability is embedded at every level. Passive design strategies—including optimized orientation, shading, cross-ventilation, and green roofs—minimize energy use while enhancing comfort. Water conservation is addressed through greywater reuse systems and efficient fixtures. The building meets NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standards, incorporating renewable energy generation and robust climate resilience measures in response to rising temperatures, drought, and changing environmental conditions. Community integration is a key driver of the design. The building acts as a social landscape, inviting occupation from both students and the wider public. Its fragmented form fosters transparency, accessibility, and a sense of belonging. Anchored in nature and driven by a vision of shared learning, the project offers not just a place for education, but a platform for sustainable, collective growth.