Looking for early education environment & architecture inspiration? In this article, we’ll look at this project to see how it aligns with early education philosophy, how the design facilitates learning, the activities that would suit these spaces and we’ll look at how you can use elements of the design as inspiration for your own service.
Montessori Kindergarten Project in Czech Republic
Overview of the Project
Contents
Mjölk Architekti, in collaboration with Projektový atelier David, designed a Montessori kindergarten extension in the small town of Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic. The project involved renovating an early 20th-century building and adding a modern extension. The design aimed to reflect Montessori principles of self-determined activity and learning through play.
Alignment with Montessori Principles
The kindergarten was designed to embed Montessori ideals, emphasizing learning through play and self-determined activities. The environment is crafted to allow children to develop fundamental relationships with the world outside the safety of their homes. The design encourages children to make individual connections with people and their surroundings.
Design Facilitating Learning
The kindergarten’s design is child-centric, promoting exploration and play. Features such as a slide connecting different floors allow children to move freely and playfully within the space. The interior is split vertically into four levels, each with a distinct atmosphere to stimulate children’s minds differently. The building also includes an outdoor play area, a unique play space on the second floor, and a series of mezzanine levels that encourage child-driven exploration.
Assisting Teachers in Creating Inspiring Lessons
The varied spaces within the kindergarten, each with its unique atmosphere, provide teachers with diverse environments to craft lessons. The building’s design, from its raw concrete walls to its yellow linoleum floors, serves as a simple backdrop against which Montessori teaching materials can stand out. Features like a map of the world moulded directly into the concrete wall can be used as teaching aids, promoting learning through sight and touch.
Activities and Lessons Suited for this Space:
- Exploratory Play: The slide and different levels encourage children to explore the space, understanding gravity, movement, and spatial awareness.
- Nature and Science: The outdoor play area can be used for lessons on plants, weather, and the environment.
- Geography Lessons: The moulded world map can be a focal point for geography lessons, teaching children about continents, countries, and physical features.
- Sensory Activities: The varied textures, from concrete walls to birch ply elements, can be used for sensory exploration.
- Astronomy Lessons: The constellation of globe lights can introduce children to basic concepts of space and stars.
Incorporating Design Elements in Other Kindergartens
Teachers planning their kindergarten environments can draw inspiration from this project by:
- Prioritizing Play: Incorporate elements like slides or playful staircases that merge movement with fun.
- Using Multi-level Spaces: Instead of traditional classrooms, consider split levels or mezzanines to encourage exploration.
- Integrating Nature: Whether it’s through outdoor play areas or indoor plants, nature should be a part of the learning environment.
- Sensory Exploration: Use varied materials and textures in the design to stimulate children’s senses.
- Incorporating Teaching Aids into Design: Features like moulded maps or constellation lights can double as teaching tools.
In conclusion, Mjölk Architekti’s Montessori kindergarten in Jablonec nad Nisou is a testament to the power of design in shaping young minds. By seamlessly integrating Montessori principles into the architecture, the kindergarten serves as both a place of learning and a playground, fostering a love for discovery in its young inhabitants.
| Location | Czech Republic |
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