Architecture and design for young children
International award winners 2005

An international award for architecture and design for young children was run by Children in Scotland, in association with The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Children in Europe and with sponsorship from Lend Lease and support from the Scottish Executive.

“The right environment can make a real difference to children’s learning ... young children are constantly stimulated by, and learn from, their surroundings yet also need to have a safe environment in which to play and learn. I hope this award will inspire architects to continue to consider these dual needs when designing these vital buildings.”

Scotland's deputy education minister, Robert Brown MSP

Read full press release

Winner - the future in a bubble

Bubbletecture Maiharah Kindergarten, Shiga, Japan

Architect firm: Shuhei Endo Architect Institution

Client: Mayor of Maihara-cho

Read more and download images of Bubbletecture

First runner up - a tropical playground

Saint Therese nursery, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean

Architect firm: RozO architecture landscape environment

Client: Mairie de la Posession

(in alphabetical order)

Runner up - Ethos before design

Colegio Bureche, Santa Marta, Colombia

Architect firm: Mauricio Gaviria Restrepo, Juan Manuel Pelaez

Cilent: Associacion de Amigos de Bureche

Read more and download images of Colegio Bureche

Runner up  - more than a rubber safety surface

Darnley Park, Stirling, Scotland

Architect firm: Page & Park architects

Play Space Designer: Judi Legg

Contractors: Land Engineering

Client: Stirling Council

Contact: Fiona Fulton, Stirling Council 01786 443361

Read more and download images of Darnley Park

Runner up - A community landmark

Fawood Children's Centre, London, England

Architect firm: Alsop Design Ltd

Client: Stonebridge Housing Action Trust

Contact: Deborah Stratton, Stratton & Reekie

tel: +44 (0)207 287 8456

email: dstratton@strattonandreekie.com

Read more and download images of Fawood Children's Centre

Runner up - Pre-fab gets thumbs up

Nido Stella, Tetra Pak nursery, Modena, Italy

Architect firm: ZPZ partners

Client: Comune de Modena, Tetra Pak Carton Ambient

Read more and download images of Nido Stella

“This award is a challenge to all those ‘making space' for young children. It's not simply a celebration of world-class design – It's a fantastic chance to reflect on the importance of collaboration in designing space that is inclusive and visionary.”
Lord Putnam, President, UNICEF UK

Winners

The overall winner has received two free places at the international architecture conference in Edinburgh, in December 2005.

The project which in the judges’ opinion best meets the criteria of the award will receive:

• an extensive choice of Microsoft business solutions software worth up to €3,000 for winners and up to €1,500 for five runners-up
• €1,000 for the users of the building or space, plus a luxury 4-box set of Kapla (make this a clickable link to their website) building blocks
• two free places at the Making Space: architecture and design for young children conference, 8-9 December 2005, Edinburgh, including accommodation and a travel budget of £500
• subscription to Children in Europe (make this a clickable link to the magazine) magazine in your chosen language (choice of eight) for two years
• subscription to, PEB Exchange, the journal of the Organisation for
• Economic Co-operation and Development Programme on Educational Building, for two years

Top six entries

The winner and five runners-up have been published in:

• Children in Europe magazine issue 9, written in eight languages, reaching readers across nine European countriesPEB Exchange, the
• bulletin of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Programme on Educational Building
• Websites and newsletters of participating organisations
  

(View the entry form)

This award is part of a programme of work on architecture, which includes an international conference 8-9 December and issue 8 of Children in Europe