Projectar uma infância portuguesa. Os Espaços da educação segundo Raul Lino.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is not only to identify architectural approaches which represent amultidisciplinary concern for early childhood education, but also to study examples basedon extensive theoretical reflection, subsequently translated and designed according to theprinciples of the architect who designs the spaces. An approach that goes beyond the scopeof architecture - as a discipline that only organizes space subjected to a program, budgetand legislation - and, in addition, is associated with pedagogy, displaying concerns relatedwith this subject and expressing solutions for both problems, with the goal of maximizing achild's development.Thus, Portuguese examples of elementary schools, kindergartens and Jardins-Escolas Joãode Deus are analysed, in an attempt to demonstrate architecture as an interventionist andparticipatory element in developing early childhood education. Seeing that a good spatialdesign can provide an environment that encourages and enables the physical, intellectualand cultural cognitive development of a child, in order to define their personality andcharacteristics as a human being. In parallel, it also procures to disclose the poetic andtechnique, intrinsic to the design of educational spaces conducted by Raul Lino, in order toemphasize and reflect on the work of the Portuguese architect in this field.Based on these goals, a study on the theoretical and historical component of the child,childhood education and spaces designed for children was performed, as well as on thearchitectural characteristics of Raul Lino, particularly regarding educational spaces.Summarized, all the theoretical knowledge acquired is subsequently put into practice, whenanalysing these case studies.Therefore, what this dissertation intends to develop is a sort of compendium of all schoolspaces designed by architect Raul Lino, for children (or at least all kindergartens andelementary schools by that author, found by the author of this dissertation). The research,compilation and consequent reflection on these case studies, intends to act as an aid forfuture work on the same theme or derivatives, and also to provide a strong foundation for thepresentation of possible approaches from other architects in this context.