Knowledge Day subtly hints at the project typology I would like to highlight. I searched for a project that could combine Soviet austerity, modern functionalism, Scandinavian practicality, historical context — all within a natural setting. It seems I succeeded. Before you is a school in Valencia, where children engage in a small daily ritual even before crossing its threshold: the noise of the city dissolves among the surrounding pines, setting the right mood. The layout resembles a structure of townhouses, consisting of links with courtyards and terraces. The architecture breaks down the volume to a child’s scale while maintaining the integrity of the composition.
The choice of extremely "adult" materials is intriguing: hollow brick, wood, glass. There is no colorful branding in the style of Yandex or massive Chinese educational institutions. The load-bearing brick walls and vaulted ceilings provide tactility and shape the historical context, while wood adds warmth, and large openings create space and contact with nature. The story of volume fragmentation continues in the interior — through low arched passages and niches. Interestingly, in such a decomposed space, a child does not feel like a guest (see photo), while the building would also suit adults — for some trendy office. This is not a decoration for children but an environment that gently concentrates attention and prepares them for adult life.
PS Why am I saying all this? Happy Knowledge Day! According to statistics, we have very few readers of school age, but many students. I wish you good luck in the new academic year and want to note that you have incredibly correct interests in architecture, even if you don’t fully realize it.