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Work and play being introduced into the workplace (I want to work here!)
It's not only schools that are slowly adopting the early childhood idea of zones catering for a range of types of work, play and leisure (with "break-out" areas, flexible and individual learning...
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Forgotten 1960s toys are remembered at this London exhibition
In the 1960s and '70s a number of designers began to re-think the kind of objects that children required to play (and thus learn) with. As Jean Piaget said, "play is the serious business of...
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Are you an architect of a school, kindergarten or university? The Architectural Review is seeking the most exciting places of learning in the world - from kindergartens to universities, nurseries to...
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The abstract Albers' vision lives on in this beautiful artists' residence &...
In 1971, Josef Albers established a not-for-profit organisation The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation to further the "revelation and evocation of vision through art".Left is Josef, and right his...
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A rooftop deck terrace gives the impression of drifting over the sea at this...
The OB Kindergarten designed by Youji No Shiro and HIBINOSEKKEI (also designers of the very cool D.S. Nursery see post here) in Nagasaki, Japan responds to it's ocean-fronted, yet urban dense site with...
View ArticleThe Brutalist Playground: An Exhibition
Showing at the The Architecture Gallery, RIBA (London) is this re-imagining or exploration of the Brutalist playground landscape of the now perceived as cold post-war housing estates.Commissioned by...
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Winner of the 2015 RIBA Awards, the Arcadia Nursery implements "free play"...
The Arcadia Nursery, a winner of the recently announced 2015 RIBA National Award has been praised for its design encouraging "free play". An approach that nurtures childrens' creativity and...
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A cafe with swings, playrooms and tables with coloured pencil holders
Parents to two children, Mariela Vergagni and Diego Cores envisaged a a cafe where children could have just as much fun as their parents.Seeking the help of architect Íris Cantante, they set out to...
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A striking light-filled voluminous form is used at this kindergarten in Colombia
Conceived of as a large cabin, La Leroteca (part of the 'Lero Lero' kindergarten in Cundimarca, Colombia) is comprised of largely two types of space. Downstairs a white walled art (painting) studio...
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A centre that successfully exhibits Froebel's vision of learning through play
Designed by Steffen Welsch the Froebel Early Learning Centre in Melbourne has undergone a transformation. From a derelict old brick school building into a place where a child's imagination and...
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A centre in Dunedin that respectfully refurbishes five existing villas
The newly refurbished OUCA (Otago University Childcare Association) Childcare or “Te Pā” in Dunedin has been granted a win at the recent 2015 Southern Architecture Awards for it's "meticulous...
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Small Design - creating quality interlocking furniture for kids
Danish designers Eglantine Charrier and Anja Lykke have developed this fun geometric range of children's furniture.Inspired by the child's intuitive approach to their surroundings and play the...
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A cool "cubby" that's like a gypsy wagon and mini contemporary home in one
The Cubby House Challenge is an annual auction held in Melbourne raising money for the Kids Under Cover organisation to prevent youth homelessness.A previous blog post on The AEC covered some of the...
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A school and nursery in France gets a makeover with facilities being shared...
French designer Matali Crasset has given this early learning and primary school a makeover, with what has been termed as “tiny architectures” or (“micro-architectures”) or as Matali Crasset puts it...
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A sensitive and clever contextual approach is employed by these kindergarten...
In a built-up area of Kobe, Japanese practice Tadashi Suga Architects have completed the Takeno Nursery School. Positioned on a prominent corner plot surrounded by busy roads, the design team...
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Smørblomsten Kindergarten reflects the "village" concept of many gabled forms
Here is an exemplary example of a rigorous design approach for designing a centre. Unfortunately a lot of the initial ideas seem lost in the final (yet finely articulated architectural) product (as...
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The 'Farming Kindergarten'
Reminiscent of Tezuka Architects'highly praised Fuji Kindergarten (see post here) is this 'Farming Kindergarten' designed by Vo Trong Architects with its soaring habitable roof.Receiving the...
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This centre shows that a tight budget needn't compromise the architecture...
Situated in New Zealand's Taranaki is the recently completed (and NZIA Awarded)Jumpstart Preschool designed by Atelier Workshop.The modest building has been praised by the New Zealand Institute of...
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Colourful numbered stairs reach to a winding red slide, encouraging great fun...
This impressive new kindergarten located in a small Slovenian village, Šmartno and designed by Jure Kotnik cleverly maximises on all available space and in providing an abundance of choice in...
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At Prestwood a new infant building provides the school's children with much...
Designed by De Rosee Sa, the new dining 'Little Hall' at Prestwood Infant School was designed with much thought and with careful consideration for keeping costs down.Taking their inspiration from...
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A wonderful kindergarten in South Korea that's like a delicate (yet dynamic)...
It is rare to get early childhood architecture that considers so many of the characteristics that embody early childhood pedagogy as does this kindergarten designed by OA Lab in South Korea's capital...
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A centre in Chicago which offers children a chance to interact first-hand...
Instead of the usual bombardment of bright colours and plastic play equipment, this child centre offers children opportunity to discover natural phenomena in the natural world. The UChicago Child...
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Architects collaborate with children and the wider community to provide an...
Harraby Community Campus impressively encompasses not only a primary school and two early years' nurseries, but also includes facilities for the wider community, such as a community centre, refurbished...
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Small woodland nursery in Germany has a light-filled atrium at its heart
I'd love to see how this nursery looks once thriving with a hubbub of children using it.We can however, imagine what it MIGHT be like; tranquil, what with it being surrounded by lush greenery, the...
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