The Community Lantern | Javier Atoche Intili

Completed in December 2025, the project involved the extension and refurbishment of the dining hall at the “Angelo Maria Canossi” Primary School in Ospitaletto, near Brescia, in Northern Italy. Funded through a joint investment by the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme and the Municipality of Ospitaletto, the project reimagines the school dining hall as a civic space dedicated to everyday learning, social interaction and community life.

The project combines the refurbishment of the existing building with the construction of a new pavilion housing the dining hall. Whilst service functions remain within the refurbished existing structure, the new volume accommodates a spacious open-plan hall designed around the daily rituals of childhood. More than a simple functional extension, the building acts as a social and spatial connector between the school campus, the surrounding public spaces and the local community.

The pavilion’s architectural identity is defined by the rhythm of the roof, comprising a sequence of north-facing shed roofs emerging from a continuous roofscape. Inspired by the agricultural buildings of the Brescian landscape, the roof gives the building a recognisable silhouette whilst introducing soft, diffuse natural daylight deep into the interior spaces. This daylighting strategy enhances visual comfort and contributes to the overall quality of the environment. By day, the sawtooth roof captures and diffuses northern light throughout the dining hall; by night, the combined effect of the roof lanterns and the generous glazed openings transforms the pavilion into a contemporary lantern. The warm glow of the timber interior becomes visible from the surrounding school grounds and adjacent public spaces, giving the building a distinctive civic presence and reinforcing its role as a place of gathering and community life.

Inside, the exposed timber structure defines rhythm, scale and spatial order, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The sequence of roof lanterns accentuates the perception of light and height, whilst the natural materiality of the timber contributes to a sense of comfort and belonging. In addition to mealtimes, the dining hall can host school events, meetings and activities open to the community, further strengthening its role as a shared civic space.

Large glazed openings connect the interior spaces with the adjacent Baden Powell Park and the surrounding landscape, encouraging visual continuity between indoor and outdoor environments. Designed in accordance with CAM requirements, DNSH principles and NZEB standards, the project integrates environmental performance, accessibility and spatial quality, transforming the everyday act of sharing a meal into an opportunity for wellbeing, social interaction and community building.

Client: Comune di Ospitaletto (BS), RUP Donato Fontana, Regina Procaccio

Location: Scuola Primaria Angelo Maria Canossi, Ospitaletto, Brescia, Italy

Architect and Construction Supervisor: Javier Atoche Intili

Project team: Gonzalo García Duclos, Diego Castro, Odaliz Alvarado, Sofía Passaro, Giulia Villari

Construction Supervison Assistant: Luisa Copeta

Structural engineer: Carlo Vicentini

MEP engineer: Nicola Bianzani, Gianmarco Pinchetti

Acoustic consultant: Cesare Trebeschi

Health and Safety Coordinator: Sergio Martire

Geological, Geotechnical and Stormwater Management Consultant: Mauro Piazza

Fire safety consultant: Elisa Zubani

General contractor: F.L. Costruzioni e Autotrasporti s.r.l.

Consultants for general contractor: DVArea, GAP Progetti s.r.l., Architettura e suono, Safety Fire