Prismatic Primaries: 8 Technicolor Concrete Nursery Schools in Spain

Many consider early childhood education to be a deeply formative time in the overall holistic development of a healthy child. Pre-kindergarten or nursery schools are essential components of the emotional, social and communicative development of young children and have been shown to have numerous benefits later in life. While the United States has lagged behind other countries in extending funding to pre-kindergarten education, other countries have devoted significant resources to its future generations. Spain, a country that has seen its fair share of economic issues over the years, provides free public school education for children ages 3 to 18.

The following collection of nursery schools in Spain demonstrate the continued commitment this European country has made to early childhood development. The buildings themselves are indicative of the ways in which architecture can inspire and connect people of all ages through the enlightening space of a school. These projects illustrate certain aspects of modernist theory (including Aldo van Eyck’s playground projects) that stimulate imagination and creativity through non-programmatic open space, which are here formed by stretches of concrete expanse. At the same time, the architects of these projects have injected a playful use of bold color-blocking that brightens up the monochrome concrete. These spaces strike a balance between the strong open interpretation of concrete and the childlike display of color.

Nursery School “Huerta de la Princesa” by Carmen Sánchez Blanes, Dos Hermanas, Spain

The winning competition entry of this Dos Hermanas nursery school contains four covered playspaces connected to classrooms. The covered porch enclosures are painted different bright colors that offset the prefabricated white concrete panels while retaining their stimulating protection from the rain and sun.

Martinet Primary School by Mestura Arquitectes, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain

The three-volume container for this pre-k and primary school in the Catalonia region of Spain is organized around the outdoor playground of the toddlers. On each side of the structure are more play spaces such as a football pitch and green open space. The stoneware, ceramic tile façade features two tonal ranges of burnt oranges and spring greens on the western and eastern sides, which reduces heat intake and refracts light within.

School in Berriozar by Javier Larraz Arquitectos, Barriozar, Spain

Inspired by the Italian education philosophy of Reggio Emilia, the learning facilities center around a main courtyard of interaction and communal activities. The positioning of the courtyard in the midst of classroom spaces extends the learning environment into a seamless communion with the outdoors. The concrete frame sharply defines the dominant forms of the structure, while the colorful steel latticework frames the view from all sides with a dynamic playfulness.

Pablo Neruda Nursery School by Rueda Pizarro Arquitectos, Madrid, Spain

The architects imagined this Madrid nursery school as a living building of moving parts and programs, able to be broken apart and put back together again by the school’s creative participants. Colored pieces of material can be deployed in any number of ways to create changing skylights, courtyards and services.

Nursery School and Kindergarten by COR & Asociados, Murcia, Spain

The white concrete exterior of the learning space volume pictured here is punctuated by the deep-set fenestration that extends inwards and painted bright playful colors. The school is also organized around a central courtyard blocked in from the street.

Consell Nursery School and Kindergarten by RipollTizon: Studio de Arquitectura, Consell, Spain

The modern portico near the main access to this Mallorca kindergarten school is a high-vaulted double screen of green and yellow negative space that bursts from the zigzagging roofline of the main structure. This roofline follows a zigzagging promenade through the classroom clusters that are connected to each other by a glass façade and outdoor space.

Nursery School of Callosa by Rocamora Arquitectura, Segura, Spain

The architects inserted a series of discrete volumes under a single concrete roofline and behind a glazed façade that establishes individual spaces, while maintaining connections within the building as a whole. An interior courtyard allows teachers to keep an eye on most spaces at once.

Les Cabanyes Preschool and Primary School by ARQTEL Barcelona, Les Cabanyes, Spain

This preschool and primary school in Northern Spain features another expression of the soothing juxtaposition of large concrete surfaces interspersed with bright colors. A large recreation and sports pitch is enclosed by a set of concrete viewing steps. The chromatic spectrum on the façade extends beyond the cantilevered concrete roofline.