06.04.2022 Edina Obermoser

Educan in Madrid by Eeestudio and Lys Villalba

© Javier de Paz García

With Educan, Enrique Espinosa of Eeestudio and Lys Villalba have used recycled shipping containers to create a colourful school for people and animals alike. The dog school, which is located west of Madrid, aims to support the local ecosystem and give new life to the arid landscape on the edge of the Spanish capital. To this purpose, Espinosa and Villalba have combined various materials, emphasized regionality and attempted to reduce waste to a minimum.

© Javier de Paz García

The ground floor of the building is made of in-situ concrete. With a hull of surplus corrugated sheeting and round windows, the architects have taken up the rippled design of the old containers used on the upper level. Large sliding doors, benches and other bespoke metal elements by local artisans complete the structure.

Animal symbiosis

In Spanish, the name Educan stands for the training of our canine friends. However, the rather unconventional school building is also devoted to other species as well. While the ground floor features 300 m² for dog training, sports and a communal space for owners, the upper level is strictly for the birds.

© José Hevia

Birds enter via openings in the façade to reach their nesting places and fill the roof space with life and twittering. Along with sparrows and swifts, the school is home to falcons, owls and bats. Our feathered friends also inhabit the façade itself and the striking Educan lettering. While the insects eaten by the birds aid in pollinating the surrounding fields, they can also transmit dog diseases. Rainwater is scarce here: it is collected in drinking troughs so that all the inhabitants of Educan can quench their thirst.

© José Hevia
© José Hevia

Colourful, animal-friendly interior design

The new building does not diffidently fit into its surroundings. Rather, it stands out: the architecture duo have done the Educan dog school completely in bright colours. The pastel green, grey and blue of the façades are topped off with bright yellow and orange accents in the training areas. The interior spaces were made for animals. Soft floors protect the dogs’ paws and joints, slats provide shelter from the hot summer sun, and the average eye height of half a metre is adapted to a canine scale.

© José Hevia

In order to prevent distractions in the spaces, the internal openings are set higher, while foam cladding in the attic space reduces sound and echo – perfect conditions for the harmonious coexistence of people, animals and nature.


Architecture: Enrique Espinosa (Eeestudio), Lys Villalba
Client: Adiestramiento Educan
Location: Vereda de Sacedón, S/N, 28690 Brunete (ES)


Structural engineering: Mecanismo
Steel construction: Miguel Torrejón
Contractor: Servicios Integrales Alji
Building services engineering: Alberto Espinosa

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