batlle i roig arquitectes: escola bressol nursery

an extra strip of land left over during the redesign of the malaga gardens in barcelona gave a great opportunity for spanish practice batlle i roig arquitectes to create a much needed nursery. the ‘escola bressol’ is comprised of two rectangular masses stacked upon each other, with a cantilever over the entrance to define a small covered courtyard.  in this way all classrooms can face south while playgrounds are fitted into the perimeter and the void created by the offset upper volume.

exposed concrete with embedded wood form work cradle the masses on the non-south facing facades. on the other sides, large windows and metal sheets with three sections of diverse perforations wrap the elevations, allowing light to reach the facilities while securing a safe location for the children. the interior contrasts greatly with the hard exterior. a chromatically rich scheme covers the lower portion of the partitions to color the world of the small inhabitants, while adults remain in the white space above. handles are placed high on the doors with windows along the bottom half, for the little users to look into their friends’ classrooms. soft wood furnishings and rubber accents make for a tactile and child-friendly environment.

entrance

one mass cantilevers over the other

entry courtyard

sandbox on the perimeter

semi-permeable fence borders the outside

view from inside the premises

small playground along perimeter

small gardens places around the perimeter

perforated steel screens

kids drinking fountain / sink

upstairs play area

stairs

stairs

south facade with windows

hallway

doors into classrooms

classroom

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

section

section

elevation

elevation

steel sheet detail