Architects: Mario Soto and Raúl Rivarola
Year: 1957-1963
Photography: Courtesy of Dirección de Turismo de Leandro N Alem, Emilio Nicolas Lorenzo Robert, Graciela de Kuna
City: Leonardo N. Alem
Country: Argentina
The Normal Superior School N°1 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, designed by Mario Soto and Raúl Rivarola in Leandro N. Alem, Misiones, is a landmark of Argentine architecture. The school, constructed between 1957 and 1963, played a pivotal role in the development of the city. The building features a large concrete roof that collects rainwater, aiding in cooling the interior. The structure includes common classrooms, an administrative sector, and a central covered courtyard for student gatherings. The facade’s concrete sunshades regulate sunlight, enhancing climatic efficiency. This design responds to local climatic conditions while achieving aesthetic excellence, and the building is now a National Historic Monument.
If you find yourself in the city of Leandro N. Alem, Misiones, and wish to visit a landmark of Argentine architecture, the renowned school designed by Mario Soto and Raúl Rivarola is a must-see.
The architects, who had previously built notable works in the province—including wooden schools in Puerto Rico, Aristóbulo del Valle, and Campo Viera, inns in Montecarlo, Apóstoles, and San Javier, and the Tourism Hotel in Posadas—were commissioned by the provincial executive to construct this educational building. In 1953, under President Juan Domingo Perón, Misiones initiated a public works plan to develop essential infrastructure and strengthen institutional power.
Constructed between 1957 and 1963 in a sparsely populated municipality, the school catalyzed the city’s development. The project’s large budget highlights the significant modernizing efforts invested in the province.
The climate of the Argentine littoral is subtropical, with Misiones experiencing high rainfall and heat. This influenced the design of the large roof, a characteristic feature of the building, which shaped the functional layout. Initially planned to be made of wood and metal sheets, the roof was ultimately constructed from concrete due to an increased budget. The roof functions as a large tank, capturing and storing rainwater, which then flows through sculptural gargoyles. The stored water cools the building, creating a more comfortable educational environment.
Under the expansive roof, activities are distributed independently, with a flexible interior enabled by the separate concrete structure. The design includes common classrooms facing south, administrative and support classrooms, and a covered inner courtyard for circulation and gatherings. This central courtyard mirrors other contemporary works, like the Manuel Belgrano School in Córdoba, where the courtyard becomes the primary space.
Circulations within the school are arranged towards the inner courtyard, designed as bleachers. The program includes 12 classrooms, 2 laboratories, a crafts and home economics classroom, a library, a music room, administrative areas, bathrooms, and changing rooms.
The school’s facade features concrete sunshades that filter sunlight, regulating interior temperatures. This promotes air circulation beneath the large roof, reducing the interior temperature by twelve degrees Celsius compared to the exterior.
Inside, the music room stands out with its reinforced concrete structure and hyperbolic paraboloid formed by tensioned wires, expanded metal, and sprayed concrete. Following the open plan logic, the room’s enclosure is demountable, allowing it to serve as a stage.
The school’s presence continues to be significant locally and nationally, admired for its timeless and evocative image and spatial qualities.
Declared a National Historic Monument, the Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Normal School exemplifies the provincial government’s mid-20th-century modernizing efforts, culminating in buildings of remarkable quality.
References
[1] Gayetzky de Kuna, Graciela C. “The Architecture of the Modern Movement in Misiones: The Normal School of Alem (1957-1963) by Mario Soto and Raúl Rivarola.” [2] Fiorito, Marian I. “The Middle School as an Artifact of Modernity (1958-1963).” Presented at the III Conference on Modern Argentine Architecture: Modernity in Argentina, Identity, and Heritage, National University of Mar del Plata, Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism, and Design, Mar del Plata. [3] “Escuela Normal N°1, Leandro N. Alem, Province of Misiones.” Summa Magazine, Summa Editions, February 1981.Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Catamarca 170, Leonardo N. Alem, Misiones, Argentina
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
