Montessori School

This Montessori school is located on the Amerigo Vespucci bridge in Florence, Italy, with the historic Ponte Vecchio serving as a design precedent. The project involved creating a 30’x30’x30’ classroom cube with strict program requirements that reflected Maria Montessori’s pedagogical principles and then scaling it up into a full-grade school. The resulting design offers distinct learning environments that encourage flexibility and self-exploration. Through the use of sight lines and connecting circulation paths, the space fosters collaboration between different age groups. The piazza serves as a vibrant gathering space for integrated play, reinforcing the school’s commitment to social and emotional development alongside academic achievement. This 6-week project culminated in a 1/4” scale classroom model, a 1/8” scale full school model, and scale drawings.