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Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon
Narrow skylights create bands of light across the red bright ceiling of a sheltered school courtyard in Porto, Portugal.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_1.jpg)
The covered terrace separates two new buildings designed by Portuguese architect Ricardo Bak Gordon at the Garcia D’Orta Secondary School.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_7.jpg)
The first two-storey building houses a library and auditorium, while the second has a cafe-bar on the ground floor and study rooms above.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_2.jpg)
The chunky canopy is suspended between the two buildings at first floor level and is the height of an entire storey.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_3.jpg)
Another school building by Bak Gordon also features the colour red, except it is on the floors rather than the ceilings - see the story here and see all our stories about Bak Gordon here.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_6.jpg)
Photography is by Fernando Guerra.
Here are some more details from Bak Gordon:
Garcia D’Orta Secondary School
The modernization project of the School Garcia de Orta, based on the construction of a new building, whose location, program and relationship with the existing built and empty spaces, can set a new centrality in the plot, providing the school new program areas essential to the new times.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_5.jpg)
This building, placed longitudinally in relation to school grounds, and an intermediate elevation view of the morphology of the terrain, allows the creation of a covered outdoor plaza that will serve as the epicenter of the whole school life, and supports two built spaces where we find the library, auditorium, bar / cafeteria, laboratories as well as other support equipment.
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_8.jpg)
Location: Boavista, Porto
Design phase: 04.2008
Constrution phase: 2010-2011
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_9.jpg)
Client: Parque Escolar EPE
Architect: Ricardo Bak Gordon
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_10.jpg)
Collaborators: Luís Pedro Pinto, Nuno Velhinho, Pedro Serrazina, Sonia Silva, Vera Higino, Walter Perdigão
Engineering consultants: Estruturas BETAR, Infraestruturas RGA / BETAR, Paisagismo FCAP
General contractor: Cantinhos / ACF
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_top2.jpg)
Site area: 26.250 m2
Built area: 3280 m2
Cost: 11 M.€
![Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon Garcia D’Orta Secondary School by Bak Gordon](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2011/09/dezeen_Garcia-D%E2%80%99Orta-Secondary-School-by-Bak-Gordon_11.gif)
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