In the small district of Sforzacosta, located in Macerata, Central Italy, BDR bureau has redefined what it means to design educational spaces for young children. Completed in collaboration with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, this newly constructed preschool offers more than just a place for education—it creates a unique architectural environment that fosters social interaction, exploration, and sustainability.
Sforzacosta Preschool Technical Information
- Architects1-12: BDR Bureau
- Location: Sforzacosta, Macerata, Central Italy
- Client: ABF Andrea Bocelli Foundation
- Area: 520 m2 | 5,700 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2022 – 2024
- Photographs: © Federico Farinatti
The new building takes shape through a system of seemingly disjointed solids and voids, connected by a large pitched roof that defines the footprint of the school and creates a series of threshold spaces between indoor and outdoor environments.
– BDR Bureau
Sforzacosta Preschool Photographs
Sforzacosta Preschool Architectural Design and Spatial Organization
BDR bureau’s design strategy for the preschool is rooted in simplicity and functionality. The building consists of a series of seemingly disjointed volumes, each connected by a large pitched roof. This distinctive roof structure defines the building’s footprint. It serves as a unifying element, while the arrangement of three independent volumes—housing classrooms, offices, and facilities—creates a porous system that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding garden.
The organization of spaces plays a critical role in shaping the educational experience. The interplay between solids and voids and the varied forms and proportions of the rooms offer dynamic spaces for children to explore. Transitional areas, such as those between classrooms, feature key architectural elements like a striking portal, a double-height skylight, and a solitary column. These elements invite children to engage with their surroundings, fostering curiosity and discovery. The openness of the layout encourages interaction between indoor and outdoor environments, allowing children to move freely between the two as part of their daily routine. This fluid of spaces creates a learning environment where architecture becomes an educational tool.
Sustainability and Materiality
At the heart of the design is a solid commitment to sustainability. The structure is constructed entirely of wood, a renewable material that provides warmth and tactility and contributes to the building’s low environmental impact. BDR bureau employed the platform frame construction system for the internal volumes and the building’s façade, making the rhythm of the vertical supports visible from the exterior. The rotation of the volumes creates deep setbacks along the façade, forming covered outdoor areas that provide shade and contribute to the building’s passive environmental strategies.
Using recyclable materials and energy-efficient design solutions ensures that the preschool operates with near-zero energy impact. Transparency in material selection also plays a key role in the project. By making structural elements visible and accessible, the design engages children with the architecture, subtly teaching them about sustainability and the importance of resource conservation.
Impact on the Local Community and Future Developments
This preschool is not an isolated project but part of a broader effort to redevelop the school system in Sforzacosta. Driven by the area’s shortage of educational facilities, the Andrea Bocelli Foundation initiated a program to revitalize the local school complex. The preschool, completed in 2023, is the first phase of this initiative. Future phases, including the renovation of primary school buildings and the gymnasium, are scheduled for completion in 2024, transforming the site into a comprehensive educational hub.
The new preschool also addresses broader social needs. Beyond classrooms, the facility includes spaces for welcoming families, a music workshop, a sensory workshop for exploring smells and tastes, and a shared dining area complete with a kitchen. These spaces are designed not just for educational purposes but for fostering community interaction and bringing together children, educators, and families. In this sense, the preschool goes beyond a traditional learning environment, creating a space where architecture supports the emotional and social development of the children.
Sforzacosta Preschool in Macerata Plans
Sforzacosta Preschool in Macerata Image Gallery
About BDR Bureau
BDR Bureau is a Turin-based architectural firm founded by Alberto Bottero and Simona Della Rocca. The studio is recognized for its innovative educational and public architecture approach, blending functionality with thoughtful spatial design. Notable projects include the renovation of the Fermi School in Turin and the construction of the Sforzacosta Preschool in Macerata, Italy. Their work emphasizes sustainable construction and community-driven design, which has garnered them multiple awards, including the “Young Talent of Italian Architecture” in 2019 and recognition as Emerging Finalists for the 2022 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. BDR bureau’s projects have been exhibited at several editions of the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Architectural Firm: BDR bureau
- Partners: Alberto Bottero, Simona Della Rocca
- Collaborators: Morena Gagliardi, Alina Salahoru
- Construction Supervision: Paolo Bianchi
- Structures Engineer: Andrea Montagna
- Systems Engineers: Gianluca Serpilli, Fabio Serpilli
- Pedagogue: Serafino Carli
- Construction Company: Subissati Srl
- Systems: Bioedil Srl
- Custom Furniture and Common Areas: Arredi 3N Srl
- Classroom Furniture: Spazio Arredo Srl
- Exterior Arrangements: Papa Enrico Srl
