2 min read
In a new neighbourhood adjacent to the town of Prat de Llobregat, near the Llobregat River in Barcelona, AXIS OF PLAY takes a transformative approach by addressing the needs of its youngest residents. This nursery project goes beyond mere protection, emphasising care and community impact.
At its core, it is a sustainable solution. Excavated soil, often discarded as waste, is repurposed into the primary material for building walls, informing the design language and connecting the structure to its context.
The project is structured around a minimal, modular 12-metre-long frame, scalable into a 4x12-metre corridor that defines both spatial and structural directionality. A central corridor connects all spaces, pointing toward and embracing the main open room as the heart of the nursery, while looking out to a vibrant courtyard. Thick, load-bearing walls align unidirectionally to enable large spans for children’s primary spaces, separating them from adult areas.
Versatile structural “arches,” formed by parallel beams and columns, adapt to various needs. Each arch can be opened, closed, made opaque, or transparent, ensuring simplicity and adaptability throughout the design.
More than a building, it proposes a safe, nurturing space that meets a critical social need while completing the fabric of the neighbourhood.
