A remarkable new nursery school has opened in San Giacomo delle Segnate, Italy, showcasing innovative architectural design that transforms early childhood education spaces into magical learning environments. Designed by Archiplanstudio and completed in 2025, the 180-square-meter facility represents a fresh approach to educational architecture that prioritizes both functionality and imagination.
The building seamlessly integrates into the established urban fabric of the small Italian town, which is characterized by fragmented and uneven built edges that define the community's urban axes. Rather than disrupting this existing character, the architects chose to complement it through thoughtful design choices that respect the local architectural vernacular while introducing contemporary educational concepts.
The structure consists of a series of elementary volumes that draw inspiration from the traditional rural architecture of the Po Valley region. This design philosophy creates an immediate visual connection between the new educational facility and the area's historical building traditions, helping the school feel like a natural extension of the community rather than an imposing modern intervention.
One of the most striking features of the design is the cone-shaped entrance volume, which serves as both a functional and symbolic element. Zenithal light filters through this distinctive entrance, creating a hierarchical approach to the access point while emphasizing the important concept of threshold in early childhood development. This architectural choice helps children understand the transition from home to school as a special, almost magical experience.
The facility houses three classrooms and various service areas within gabled volumes that echo traditional residential architecture. Two of the classrooms establish strong connections with the outdoor environment through large openings that face directly onto the school's courtyard, promoting natural light and visual connectivity with outdoor play spaces. The third classroom features an innovative design element: a large cut in the roof that creates a direct relationship with the sky above, bringing natural light deep into the learning space.
The architects deliberately embraced simplicity in their volumetric approach while strategically incorporating color to enhance the building's appeal to young children. This combination of straightforward geometric forms and thoughtful use of color contributes to creating what the design team describes as a "fairytale-like image" of the building. The goal is for the structure to become a magical and adventurous memory associated with each child's first formal school experience.
Photographed by Simone Bossi, the completed project demonstrates how contemporary educational architecture can successfully balance practical requirements with imaginative design elements. The building serves not just as a functional learning environment but as a space that nurtures creativity and wonder in young minds.
This project represents a broader trend in educational architecture that recognizes the profound impact physical environments have on learning and development. By creating spaces that feel both safe and exciting, architects like those at Archiplanstudio are helping to redefine what school buildings can be for the next generation of students.
