Juarranz Foundation, created in 1902 in the village of Los Santos, is a century-old brick building that was built by Doña Benita Juarranz y Ramos in honour of her father, Don Santos Juarranz. The main aim of the foundation was to offer education in religion and science to local boys and girls through the Escuelas Católicas Juarranz (Juarranz Catholic Schools). The design and supervision of the building works was down to Arturo Pérez Merino, a renowned architect, member of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He is known for his modernist works in Madrid.
Pérez Merino applied an innovative educational approach to the structure of the building, dividing the ground floor into two parts for the classrooms, separated by a roofless corridor that allowed for light and ventilation. The classrooms had separate entrances for boys and girls and roofed hallways for the pupils. Cloakrooms could be accessed from the classrooms under the teacher’s supervision, and playgrounds with sheds were designed. The upper floor was used for teachers’ living quarters.
Today, the building is used for religious purposes only. There is a chapel, sacristy, parish office and meeting room on the ground floor, while the ecclesiastical archive and the parish priest’s residence is on the first floor. It was restored in 1993 and the square in front of the building was recently remodelled, including aspects that recall the children’s games that took place there in the past.
