Advanced sustainability and safety in the spaces suitable for children

The new nursery school in Guastalla (Reggio Emilia) is the result of the project with which MC A had won the architectural competition held in February 2014. The new facility replaces the existing two nursery schools (Pollicino and Rondine) that had been damaged by the earthquake in 2012 and hosts up to 120 children aged 0 to 3 years.

The project aims at promoting children’s interaction with the surrounding space through an educational vision where everything – from the distribution of the classrooms to the selection of the construction materials and the integration between interiors and exteriors – is planned down to the finest detail.

The facility was built using low-impact natural or recycled materials. The loadbearing structure consists of timber frames, which ensure efficient thermal insulation. The high level of insulation and the optimal distribution of transparent surfaces, together with the use of cutting-edge rainwater harvesting systems and a photovoltaic system on the roof, help meet the school’s energy needs minimizing the use of mechanical equipment.

Location: Guastalla (RE), Italy

Year: 2015

Type: Architectural pubblic competition – winner project

Client: Municipality of Guastalla

Surface: 1.400 sqm

Project: Mario Cucinella Architects

Team: Mario Cucinella, Marco Dell’Agli with Alberto Bruno, Alberto Casarotto, Valentino Gareri, Ferruccio Palumbo, Irene Sapienza. Models: Yuri Costantini

Landscaping design: GREENCURE landscape & healing garden

Visual: Cristian Chierici – CC 79

Photo credit: Moreno Maggi

Structures: Geoequipe Studio Tecnico Associato

Electrical and mechanical Design: Area Engineering srl

Acustic:  Ing. Enrico Manzi