The new headquarters for Rudolf Steiner College of Education and Psychology is situated in the Alto da Boa Vista neighborhood. Designed by the architecture firm Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos, led by partners Mario Biselli and Artur Katchborian, the project was selected through a competition organized by the college itself. It draws inspiration from the core values of Waldorf education and its harmonious connection with nature.
The building covers approximately 3,850 square meters and features a U-shaped layout, embracing a century-old mango tree at the center of the site. Preserving this tree was a key challenge and guided the design, orienting all spaces to face it. Beneath the mango tree lies a central courtyard where students can meditate and connect with nature.
During the architectural research on Waldorf educational institutions, the firm recognized the importance of handicrafts and wood in their designs. Due to the relatively limited site area, steel was chosen for the building’s structure. This allowed for long spans, eliminating the need for ground-floor columns, creating a more open first floor, and minimizing intrusions into the space.
Wood is treated in two distinct ways here. Firstly, engineered wooden structures are attached to the floor system, serving as wooden supports facing the internal courtyard. These elements also transform into furniture within the building for student use.
Secondly, on a finer scale, organic wood patterns are applied to the metal surfaces of the curtain walls and sunshades, symbolically reflecting wood’s characteristics. Mario Biselli, Managing Partner at Biselli Katchborian, emphasized, “This is a reference to wood, not the use of actual materials.”
The headquarters’ functional areas are distributed across the first and second floors, with six classrooms on each level. The design offers flexible teaching spaces that can be rearranged to suit different needs, promoting freedom of use. This flexibility also extends to circulation between floors, fostering communication and interaction.
The rooftop terrace on the second floor offers a tranquil space for students and teachers to relax. The open design provides excellent views of the surrounding area. Furniture choices prioritize outdoor comfort, with lightweight and flexible pieces that create an engaging visual experience. José Machado, partner at Novidário and responsible for the headquarters’ soft furnishings, noted, “This is one of the coolest furniture pieces we’ve ever installed. The semi-open aesthetic of the courtyard collection interacts beautifully with the architectural concept, harmonizing with the facade fence, flooring, and metal panels.”
To connect the floors externally, two glass-enclosed panoramic elevators have been installed in the central courtyard, providing views of the mango tree and the surrounding campus. On the rooftop, an elevated block houses administrative offices, while the library is positioned at the highest point of the building, serving as a symbolic lighthouse representing the pursuit and importance of knowledge.
Project Drawings
△ Project Generation Diagram
△ Negative First and Second Floor Plan
△ First and Second Floor Plan
△ Third and Fourth Floor Plan
△ Fifth and Sixth Floor Plan
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Local Sectional Perspective
Project Information
Architect: Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos
Area: 3,850 m²
Project Year: 2024
Photographers: Nelson Kon, Guilherme Pucci
Manufacturers: Artsy, Castelatto, Fórmica, OWA Nexacustic & Nexalux, Permetal, Sulmetais, Suvinil, Tarkett
Lead Architects: Mario Biselli and Artur Katchborian
Project Team: Carla Gotardello (Coordination), Andre Biselli Sauaia, Victor Piza, Maurício Addor, Hugo Rossini, Giuliano Chimentão
Project Management: ST Arquitetos Associados
Interior Design: Pitá
Landscape Design: Sérgio Lessa – SLH Architects Associates
Soft Installation: Novidário
Structural Engineering: EDATEC
Construction Budget: Gabriel Biselli
Fire Safety Consultant: Focus Consul
Regulatory Advisor: Sanrlei Polini
BIM Modeling: SPBim
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
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