Valbona Early Childhood Education Center
The intervention involves replacing the existing school building with a new Early Childhood Education Center accommodating a nursery school (ages 0–3) and a kindergarten (ages 3–6). Although the two facilities maintain functional and organizational autonomy, they are conceived as parts of a single spatial and educational system in which visual relationships, shared spaces, and connecting elements foster dialogue among the different components of the complex.
The project integrates carefully into the urban and historical landscape of Valbona, avoiding dominant formal gestures and instead adopting an architectural language calibrated to the context. The new architecture establishes a relationship with the main historical and landscape references, including the Church of San Rocco and the nearby medieval castle, through proportions, materials, and colors that recall local building traditions. In this way, the building becomes an element capable of continuing the narrative of the place, creating continuity with the existing urban fabric.
The concept of the center is based on the idea of clusters, an organizational principle that relates autonomous units within a broader system. The nursery and kindergarten are organized as two distinct but interconnected nuclei, linked by relational spaces that encourage permeability between functions. Their respective agoras are conceived as a single continuous space, connected through a portico that generates a sequence of open and enclosed areas. The entrance portico, the loggias, and the school park become spaces of encounter for children, educators, and families. This configuration allows flexible use of spaces and promotes continuity between the different stages of the educational path, strengthening the sense of belonging to a shared educational community. Within the park, a multifunctional structure designed as an open-air theater provides space for educational and collective activities.
The nursery building hosts three independent sections, each equipped with bathrooms, resting areas, and educational ateliers. The sections open directly onto the school park, establishing a constant relationship with the outdoor environment. The entrance leads to a large reception area visually connected to the external canopy and in dialogue with the kindergarten agora. The relational heart of the nursery is characterized by a pitched ceiling that recalls the archetypal form of the house and helps create a domestic and reassuring atmosphere. The program is completed by spaces for physical activities, a dining area, and staff facilities.
The kindergarten also accommodates three sections with bathrooms, resting areas, ateliers, and dining areas. The classrooms overlook the park, strengthening the relationship between learning activities and the outdoor environment. The building is organized around a large central agora conceived as a collective space for meeting and social interaction. From here, a connective space leads to the laboratories and is characterized by a barrel-vaulted ceiling highlighted by bright colors designed to stimulate children’s creativity. The functional program also includes a kitchen with pantry, changing rooms and staff facilities, as well as technical rooms.
The Valbona Early Childhood Education Center is therefore conceived not only as an educational facility but also as a civic device capable of generating relationships and building community, offering spaces designed to foster well-being, discovery, and interaction. The result is a recognizable and lasting place: not only a school, but a cultural and social landmark where children, educators, and families share experiences within an integrated educational ecosystem.
