"Nature Near"

I was lucky enough to be invited to contribute to the local Montessori Voices magazine, on the vital importance of bringing nature near. It's as important for little people as it for big ones ...

QotD: “It is almost possible to say that there is a mathematical relationship between the beauty of his surroundings and the activity of the child; he will make discoveries rather more voluntarily in a gracious setting than in an ugly one...”

“It is almost possible to say that there is a mathematical relationship between the beauty of his surroundings and the activity of the child; he will make discoveries rather more voluntarily in a gracious setting than in an ugly one...”~ Dr Maria Montessori, founder of the Montessori educational system
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Recent Project: Montessori school

Another recent project here on the boards: This is a new three-classroom Montessori school in a central Auckland suburb, behind two existing houses used as admin and accommodation.

The roof forms add interest from the (higher) local street -- and also (very importantly) shade direct sun while allowing in plenty of indirect light, making the spaces bright, clean and open.

The inner and outer spaces in each of the classrooms (or environments, as Montessorians call them) give two contrasting types of space within the larger realm: the larger central space a well-lit interior, the others as "saddle-bags" around it relating directly to the decks, gardens and planting beyond the doors and windows. The number of these spaces maps the number of pedagogical areas in each Montessori environment.

The buildings themselves are child-scaled, and the geometric play mirrors the similar play the children themselves undertake in the Montessori environment ...

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Montessori School, by Organon Architecture

So some of you have been suggesting I start posting more regular art and architecture posts again. And others have suggested I post more of what I’m designing myself.

So at the risk of boring my other reader, and the troll, here’s something that’s on the board at the moment: a new Montessori school, with 3 classrooms, quiet decks, parents space, shared kitchen, internal garden ...

Montessori Children’s House

I’ve had the pleasure of renovating one Montessori school, on Auckland’s North Shore, and of designing this one as a representative project.

Terrace:

It takes its inspiration from Muriel Dwyer’s suggestion that Dr Montessori favoured an octagonal layout for her children’s houses—which allows equal space for each of the four main subject areas, and the four minor areas, without preferencing any—and the attempt to solve the ‘inside-outside’ problem which seems to plague so many Montessori children’s houses.

Main Space:

Entrance, from Car Park:

The staff wing and parents’ area is exploded from the main space, and both staff and kitchen areas overlook the garden and terrace.

‘Afternoon’ Terrace,’ with Staff Wing on left:

 

It might still need a bit of work on the colour scheme . . .  still, this is only a ‘sketch’ model.

Looking North, with light from above to the main space.

 

Looking South-East.  The child and Directress give some idea of scale (and unfortunately the Archicad programme used to produce this has no dress-wearing Directresses!):