Normalização do desenho da escola: O caso da Escola Secundária Padre Alberto Neto e da Escola Secundária da Amadora

Abstract

This dissertation is based on an analysis of the 1968 Standardized Study of Standard High Schools by architect Maria do Carmo Matos. Through two examples, the Padre Alberto Neto Secondary School and the Amadora Secondary School, it seeks to understand the effectiveness of applying a standardized design to current pedagogical, spatial, and social requirements. The research focuses on the study of the educational policies of the New State, in parallel with the international context, particularly in England, where Maria do Carmo undertook a work placement in 1966. This experience would have a strong influence on the projects and studies that she later carried out in Portugal. In this way, the aim is to understand school architecture as a reflection of a political and social context, without devaluing the implications of the school space on the cognitive, social, and cultural development of its main user, the student. In this sense, the comparative reflection of practical cases, relating them to the standard project, will allow us to understand and expose the transformations of these buildings over time. Ultimately, the aim is to emphasize the rarely appreciated work of architect Maria do Carmo Matos, who proved to be a leading figure in the field of school architecture at the end of the New State.