The university buildings were designed respecting the existing topography of the site. In the case of the Faculty of Education building, the terrain was levelled. This structure is surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Location
The Faculty of Education building is located next to the ring road that surrounds the campus, in an area close to the General Studies buildings and the Schools of Plastic Arts and Musical Arts. Each of these buildings are isolated volumes, with the presence of a similar constructive language but with a great diversity of forms.
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The conception of the Rodrigo Facio campus took place during the revival of the university following similar initiatives across the Americas.
History
The University of Costa Rica was officially created in the 1940´s. The buildings of the Universidad de Costa Rica built in the decade (1952-1962) in the canton of Montes de Oca are a good example of how the rationalist language of the modern movement was introduced in the country. These buildings were designed by the Engineering Department of the institution. Although in various forms, they are representative of the type of architecture that was developed in that first moment: constructions of high quality and with clear intentions to relate harmoniously with the immediate environment. The Education Faculty building was inaugurated in 1958.
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Why is it
Significant?
It is a character defining element of authentic grammatical design language of the first eight campus buildings, with interesting construction and plastic attributes to fit the weather of Costa Rica.
"El Girasol Cósmico Mural", commemorative mural of the 50th anniversary of the General Studies of the University of Costa Rica (2007) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Architectural ceramics as public art
In the screen wall beige, the morning sun, rays projected grazing light on the wall--in an almost fleeting temporality--and becomes a mirror of the tops of the nearby trees. It also becomes a mobile screen projection of shadows of the vegetation that surrounds it. The play of light and shadow on the surface is a whole sensory experience for the attentive viewer.
Ceramic architectural artwork
Hidden Murals, Invisible Treasures
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Garden space located in back of building
School of Medicine Mural (1962), University of Costa Rica (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Front entrance of building
Play of light and shade on the orange floor of the corridors (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
A look inside the building
A non figurative or abstract painting formed by rectangular spots that appear to be spirt falling vertically by gravity (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
The different parts of the building form a square prism with an open central courtyard (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Semi-public space of building.
Slab joint column (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
A look inside the building.
Fresco murals made by students in a Fine Arts course (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Use of domestic terrazzo floors in the floors of the main stairs (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Stakeholders
Students, faculty, staff and visitors enjoyed this building's facilities, adapted to the local climate and environment
Gardens and fresh water in the central courtyard (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Meeting of students in the hall of the auditorium (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Working group in the central courtyard (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Bamboo tropical plant (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Use of the lobby as a place of rest or study (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Adapted to nature
Local fauna and flora of this magnificent architecture
Green banana bush (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
A hen in the garden (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Playground (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Hidden Murals & Invisible Treasures
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Box of stairs located in the East pavilion (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Metallic structures bridge and water pipeline (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Outdoor drawing Fine Arts course (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Why is it under threat ?
Currently, the university is carrying out a massive project to adapt new technological facilities to meet codes and regulations imposed by the national legislation. Buildings are being transformed without respect to their heritage value by other structures, thereby being condemned to obsolescence.
Mural "Tierra, agua y semilla", Faculty of Agri-Food Sciences, University of Costa Rica (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Weathering
Renovations to attend wall fractures because of earthquakes and redesign the audience fragmented the original mural (2017-11-10) by Ofelia SanouICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Photos and texts by Ofelia Sanou and Alberto Collado
Ruiz, A., 2011.” La Educación Superior en Costa Rica: tendencias y retos en un nuevo escenario”. Comisión Nacional de Rectores. Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica, pp. 5-6.
Sanou, O., 2004. “La arquitectura”. In: Rodríguez V. Costa Rica en el siglo XX. Tomo II. Editorial Universidad Estatal a distancia, pp. 280-284.
Carteles de la exposición el Museo+UCR exposición histórica sobre el campus de la UCR 8 nov. 2012. Laura Raabe Cercone, curadora de artes visuales del Museo+UCR.
Historic Photogrhapies .http://www.ucr.ac.cr/multimedios/galerias/70-aniversario-universidad-de-costa-rica/1950.html
Padilla, José Emilio. Ideas para Planear la Ciudad Universitaria de Costa
Rica.http://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/ucr/article/view/21918
