a mini school

OBJECTIVE: Design a building for an elementary school based on the specific requirements of a private educational system which has as its basis the philosophy of Maria Montessori. The functional requirements of the program as well as the philosophical approach to childhood education which the "Montessori Method" fosters must be provided for in the solution.

BASIC CRITERIA: Dr. Maria Montessori was the first woman graduate of medical school in Italy in the late 19th century. After she received her medical degree, she began working in a state home for disturbed children. As a result of her experiences in this situation, she developed an instructional method which proved to be successful for "normal" children also. The basis for this educational philosophy is that every individual progresses in learning at a "critical period" in one's life, which varies according to one's needs and basic make up. For instance, a critical period for learning reading may occur in some children at the age of five, and in others not until seven or eight. The same is also true of mathematics, science, history, and art. Because of this phenomena, the typical classroom situation where all students of a certain age group all are taught the same subjects at the same age, is not conducive to effective learning, nor does it encourage creativity or real interest in the subjects. The other element of Montessori's philosophy is that all subjects are interrelated, so that mathematics cannot be compartmentalized separately from spelling, for example, because the knowledge of one will support learning of the other. Thus Montessori carefully devised a progressive method of teaching which not only allowed each student to develop at his own rate in accord with his critical periods, but also interlocked all academic subjects in an holistic approach. She insisted that children begin to be taught with her methods from a very early age, since everything learned serves as a foundation for that which will follow. Thus, today, a Montessori educated child begins to attend regular classes at the age of two, and there are some schools which begin even earlier. Because a large part of the learning takes place between students, once the stage has been set and the materials have been introduced to each student, classrooms are structured so that there is a range of ages in the same room.

The typical situation is to divide groups as follows:

2 years old
3 - 6 years old
6 - 9 years old
9 - 12 years old

Each classroom would have a Montessori trained "director" rather than a traditional "teacher" who would direct the activities of the students, and introduce them to the materials. The director works with each child individually to be sure that he is progressing satisfactorily, and the students work with each other in an unstructured way to learn from one another. Directors would also be supported by one "assistant director" who are not necessarily Montessori trained. Each level of learning is provided with specific "materials" which serve as tactile, visual, and auditory stimuli for the lessons. These materials were invented by Montessori for her teaching methods, and are the same in all accredited Montessori Schools. The placement and organization of these materials is an important part of the interior design of the classrooms.

program

1. One classroom for 30, 2 year olds, with small toilet room, 800 sf

2. Two classrooms for 30 each, 3 - 6 year olds, 800 sf each

3. One classroom for 30, 6 - 9 year olds, 1000 sf

4. One classroom for 15, 9 - 12 year olds, 1000 sf

5. One lunch room for students, 1000 sf

6. One faculty lounge, with 12 lockers and men and women toilet rooms, 500 sf

7. One parents lounge, 300 sf

8. One indoor recreation room with minimum 20 foot ceiling, 1200 sf, equipped for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, etc.

9. One auditorium with stage and seating for 200 people, 1200 sf

10. One main office with desk for office manager, 200 sf

11. One office for head director, connected with main office, 100 sf

12. One board/meeting room with table for 10, 200 sf

13. Toilet rooms, boys and girls

14. Janitor's closet

15. Storage room, 1000 sf

16. Kitchen, connected with auditorium, recreation room, and offices, 200 sf

17. Entrance lobby with display area

18. One locker per student, 12" wide, 48" high, 12" deep

19. Outdoor recreation area for baseball, soccer, sand box, running track, climbing equipment, and other items to be designed by architect.

20. Off street parking for 10 cars.

21. Drop off/pick up area for vehicular access of students

22. Bicycle rack for 40 bicycles

project methodology

step 1: Analyze the site and do a site influence diagram to determine the best location and orientation for the building and outdoor areas.

step 2: Bubble diagram of functional requirements

step 3: From bubble diagram and site influence diagram, form a "concept" for the solution.

step 4: Develop the plan of the building based on the bubble diagram and concept.

step 5: Provide required and desired fenestration, and develop section and elevations.

step 6: Develop a form for the building based on the plan and section and elevations.

step 7: Modify plans as necessary to fit the form. Make sure program is still met.

required presentation

site plan, 1" = 20'
bubble diagram, 1/8" = 1' 0"
plan(s), 1/8" = 1' 0"
sections, 1/8" = 1' 0"
elevations, 1/8" = 1' 0"
written description of philosophical basis for design (on boards)

required media

drawings: freehand ink on vellum wrapped on or glued to 20" X 30" Foam-core board, drawings must be colored with prismacolor pencil or markers; show furniture, seating, and people (section and elevations); interior and exterior plantings.
titles: traced freehand or computer-generated lettering
entourage: trace from tracing guides