In the small town of San Giacomo delle Segnate, nestled in the agrarian landscape of the Po Valley, stands this preschool which reinterprets local rural architecture through simple volumes and gentle colors. The building is composed of basic forms, with a cone shape standing out in front that filters overhead light, emphasizing the entrance and the concept of the threshold.

The volumes with gable roofs contain classrooms and service areas. Two of the classrooms open out to the courtyard through large windows, while the third one connects with the sky through an opening in the ceiling, fostering a direct relationship with the surroundings.

Considering the importance of a person’s very first school experience, the project engages with children by means of friendly geometries and colors, conducive to play and exploration. The architecture thus in itself becomes an educational tool, custom-designed for the little ones: for their hands, their eyes, their time, their pace, their curiosity. A building which looks like it has been imagined by the kids themselves.