The building flows onto a southwardly oriented courtyard thanks to a façade mostly translucent and with variety of openings. Built with cellular polycarbonate panels that filter the entry of light. The architecture proposed stems from the observation of the natural behavior of a child in his or her daily routine. Because children spend a long time on the floor (lying, sitting, in direct contact with it), this surface is especially important. For this reason, the organization of the floor areas in a patchwork of different colors favors the understanding of the place. Furthermore, because children often look towards the ceiling (while lying, playing or when they fall…) it also incorporates this parallel plane as an extension of the activity and world of children. For this reason, the ceiling is drilled with openings that produce colored lights that vary with the time of the day or the seasons. In this way, the superimposition of the light shafts upon the floor and walls, coming as much from the translucent façade as from the ceiling, turn it into an ideal place for magical or unexpected perceptions.

Authors: Mª Auxiliadora Gálvez Pérez and Izabela Wieczorek. (Gálvez+Wieczorek)

Collaborators: M. A. García Grande, M. Reques, M. G. Fernández, J. García Asua y  M. Á. Rica (Technical Architect)

Developer: Ayuntamiento de Valdemoro

Advisors: Technical installations: Jesús Jiménez and Javier Blázquez; Estructure: Gerardo Cantalejo

Construction Company: Atrium 97

Date: 2004 (project) 2005 (construction)

Location: Madrid, España

Built Surface: 1.397 m2

Budget:1.093.635€

Photography: ImagenSubliminal (Miguel de Guzmán+Rocío Romero)