School in Valencia by Gradolí & Sanz Arquitectes

Located between the En Dolça gorge and residential buildings in the Valterna district of Paterna, the school is nestled in a natural setting. Raised wooden walkways lead children through a pine forest to the main entrance. The entrance is deliberately oriented towards the surrounding landscape, enabling children to transition gradually from the city to a new environment.

The Imagine Montessori School's entrance and classrooms face the En Dolça gorge and the adjacent pine forest. © Mariela Apollonio

The school building consists of nine interconnected houses arranged in the shape of an ‘S’. This layout creates two spacious outdoor areas that encourage interaction with nature: an entrance area to the west and a playground to the east. Children can use the landscape itself for learning and playing, making use of tree trunks, roots, branches and pine cones. The natural slopes of the terrain can be used as ramps, slides, stairs or caves.

Natural materials such as wood and terracotta tiles characterise the interior of the school. © Mariela Apollonio

The classrooms face out towards nature and have been designed in accordance with Montessori educational principles. They are geared towards independence, initiative and individual learning. There are rooms for group work and collaborative learning, as well as quiet areas for individual study. Pupils can choose between different rooms with different pedagogical structures according to their interests and needs, including areas for the senses, practical life, language, mathematics and cultural studies. The furniture and materials are tailored to the size and needs of the children. Each classroom has an outdoor area with a covered terrace, a small amphitheatre, a water fountain and a deciduous tree.

The green roof enables the school to blend harmoniously into its surroundings. © Mariela Apollonio

Wood and terracotta tiles characterise the exterior and interior of the school, which is open and light-filled. The architects have avoided superfluous cladding and details in the interior and exterior, ensuring that the visible structural elements become part of the learning experience. Three-storey vertical spaces are located in the centre of the building to guarantee optimal lighting and ventilation. These spaces provide additional room and a visual connection between the classrooms. A green roof provides additional temperature regulation and blends the building harmoniously into its surroundings.