The Story of Piccole Orme
The desires, ideas, and projects of several teachers intersected, combined, and strengthened, giving rise in 1997 to a new reality: “Piccole Orme.”
"The art of teaching is nothing more than the art of awakening the curiosity of young minds and then satisfying it; and curiosity lives only in happy souls." (A. France)
The designed space is a space of life and of the future, where disciplines and knowledge—such as Architecture, Pedagogy, Sociology, and Anthropology—are called upon to declare their epistemologies and to compare their languages. From their dialogue, confrontation, and the crystallization of their knowledge and uncertainties emerged an empathetic space, where not only does knowledge take place, but the space itself becomes a metaphor for knowledge. A space understood in this way can be considered a very powerful and influential language, analogical in nature. It communicates based on precise cultural conceptions and deep biological roots. Like any language, it is therefore a constitutive element in the formation of thought.
An architectural project designed to intertwine with the pedagogical one supports the processes occurring within this structure: learning, teaching, sharing, and knowing, experienced by all participants—children, teachers, consultants, and parents. This space is created to enable the skills of everyone, and above all, to foster well-being together, allowing all participants to be both authors and actors, enhancing their experience of the space and its activities.
The aesthetic dimension, naturally relevant to children, has also been carefully considered. Beauty has always attracted humans; the sense of care and hospitality is rooted in ancient traditions. Viewed together—the rigor of furniture and objects designed to safeguard safety and autonomy, the selection of materials and color palette, and the refined details—they form an environment very different from the traditional image of a school or child. The created environment is not categorized as a school, with all the stereotypes that entails, but as a multifunctional place where children and adults work, play with traditional and modern toys, discuss, listen, eat, rest, and live in the present while becoming builders of tomorrow.
THE BUILDING
The Piccole Orme villa is spread over two levels with a total equipped area of approximately 250 m², allowing each child to find their own personal space in harmony with others. The outdoor area, about 500 m², is equipped as a playground and garden.
During the renovation of the building, every effort was made to adhere to bioarchitecture or sustainable building principles, a modern science of constructing and designing in respect of nature and humans. Traditional yet healthy materials were used, such as bricks, raw earth, and non-radioactive stone. Paints and coatings are solvent-free, non-toxic, and primarily in shades of green, expressing joy, openness, and creating a bright, pleasant, harmonious environment. The principle was that the school environment should be desaturated to allow the real actors—the children and their work—to stand out. The chosen colors, secondary and tertiary with low saturation, provide a more complex color palette, reflecting the complexity of a child’s identity.
Electrical cables are shielded, and circuit breakers prevent the creation of electromagnetic fields. Hygroscopic materials regulate humidity naturally within the rooms. Exterior walls filter and neutralize atmospheric toxins due to the absorbent construction materials. Indoor spaces are designed with harmonious proportions, shapes, and colors, in line with the latest EU safety guidelines.
THE KITCHEN
The school has an internal kitchen that accommodates dietary restrictions and intolerances. Meals are prepared according to dietary plans developed by a nutritionist and approved by the competent local health authority (ASL).