Z E M C H 2 0 1 2 I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e
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This area is characterized by high traffic density and is very close to the port of Palermo
(see Fig. 3).
Figure 3: Geographical location of the school in the town of Palermo.
The “La Masa” school has a complex history. It was originally built in 1908, with a plan
drafted by Municipal administration in 1906. The designers were the Eng. N. Mineo and
Eng. L. Castiglia (Archive of the office contract, Municipality of Palermo).
The early ‘900 was a difficult period for educational institutions because of shortage of
school building. Until then, the education was indeed given by clergymen in monasteries
or in private homes.
For this reason, for the first time in 1904 in Palermo, school buildings were designed with
only purpose of using them as school.
The plan of the “La Masa” school building of the year 1908 indicated a two-storey
building, with 5 classrooms in each floor. The constructive features, as it is possible to
read on the appraisal cost estimates, were:
•
Shapeless stones foundations;
•
Small ashlars stone (from Aspra town, close to Palermo town);
•
Concrete casting floors;
•
H-beams of iron and clay tiles for the floors;
•
Wood trussed for the roof.
With the coming of fascism, to impart education become a fundamental role of the State,
and the construction of school buildings was significantly increased.
The style of the schools of this period is specific to the regime, it had to be the emblem
of the state power.
In 1929 the “La Masa” school was enlarged with the addition of a storey in order to
obtain 14 classroom (see Fig. 4). The materials and techniques adopted were the same
as the original construction.
