Research post 3 - Kindergarten in Guastalla by Mario Cucinella Architects
In this post, I am going to work on my third research post which I am going to research on Kindergarten of Guastalla by Mario Cucinella Architects.
Kindergarten of Guastalla by Mario Cucinella Architects
Mario Cucinella Architects designed this kindergarten as a replacement of two schools which were damaged by the earthquake in Guastalla, Italy. This kindergarten was designed for children under 3 years old and accommodate around 120 children (Theplan.it, 2025). However, Mario Cucinella Architects won an Architectural Competition thanks to this building design which is considered as an important effort for children, parents and teachers in this city(Theplan.it, 2025). However, I got inspired from the architectural style and how the architects have designed this building for children.
One of the major specialties of the building is the usage of sensory architectural principles. The architects have thought about the tactile sensitivity , natural materials, color pallets, and natural lights(ArchDaily, 2015). Moreover, this kindergarten is designed in laminated wood, with a concrete base which proves the security as well as the natural friendliness. The other specialty is the inspiration of this building. They got inspired by the Pinocchio's story scenario which is the scenario in the whale's belly. Thus, they have designed the kindergarten as children do like to imagine their space according to their dreamworlds. They have used eco friendly materials such as wood and also they have worked on energy efficiency strategies such as thermal insulations, rain water harvesting techniques and photovoltaic system on the roof (ArchDaily, 2015).
Nevertheless, the building is built according to environmental education. The architects have paid the attention on the most important facts while designing the kindergarten. They have focused on how the sensory architecture would affect the children's psychology and their education. I got inspired by this kindergarten specifically because of its concept as well the curvilinear architectural style. The below image shows how I used this inspiration in my design . I designed the pre school creche in the same curvy structure by letting the children to wonder around and engage with each others. Furthermore, I am looking forward to develop and finalizing the design in the next week.
References
Theplan.it. (2025). MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects - Nursery in Guastalla | The Plan. [online] Available at: https://www.theplan.it/eng/award-2017-Education/nursery-in-guastalla-1 [Accessed 5 Aug. 2025].
Jayakrishnan Ranjit (2021). Mario Cucinella Architects Stimulating Kindergarten In Italy. [online] PA | Architecture & Technology. Available at: https://parametric-architecture.com/mario-cucinella-stimulating-kindergarten-in-italy/?srsltid=AfmBOoqI_IgLHHV97aDabL_TlSN9_dOprLCfoCX7QpcvHnOz0kDohtJ- [Accessed 5 Aug. 2025].
Good use of Sketchup so far - some interesting insights into the work, but better linking to your project is necessary.
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