From a structural and formal perspective, the proposal for the new “Tagliabue” Kindergarten in Villasanta (Italy) stands out for its exoskeleton. Inspired by climbing structures, this framework serves multiple functions:

• acting as the primary structural system of the building (columns and beams);

• creating a three-dimensional grid that supports play equipment (e.g., slides and swings), safety features (emergency stairs), and solar radiation control elements (retractable shades);

• facilitating the installation of greenhouses on the first floor (winter gardens and educational vegetable plots);

• establishing a transitional space between indoor and outdoor areas;

• providing support for climbing plants.

The project maximizes the outdoor space by concentrating the built area on the northern side of the site, freeing up over 1,800 m² of south-facing garden. The building’s section design allows for the utilization of the ground floor roof, transforming it into a sunlit, open-air playground of over 450 m², where children can play freely in a protected and enclosed area.

The six classrooms, located on the ground floor, open directly onto the outside, reinforcing the connection between indoor spaces and the garden. The structural frames define outdoor areas adjacent to each classroom, designed for open-air lessons. The classrooms offer great flexibility in use, thanks to movable walls that allow them to be combined, doubling or tripling their surface area.

The school’s architecture is designed to adapt over time to its evolution. For this reason, modular façades and the structural frame ensure a flexible construction process and allow future layout modifications without overly invasive or costly interventions.

The technological strategy highlights sustainability, adopting a prefabricated timber construction system. A photovoltaic system on the first-floor roof makes the building energy self-sustaining.