Runner up - Nido Stella, Tetra Pak nursery, Modena, Italy

The Tetra Pak nursery was erected within four months – from the time it was ordered to opening day.

The speedy construction was possible because a number of the walls and the roof were prefabricated, built in Slovenia using natural wood and then shipped over to Italy. It also uses solar panels.

The space incorporates a workshop, nap areas, ‘soft’ places, spaces where children can build, a dining area and a central public open space – a ‘piazza’ – with furniture of various shapes and sizes.

Michele Zini, architect, said: “This new building aimed to be innovative in its pedagogical approach and design. It is a multi-sensorial environment, made up of different light, colour, and materials with different surfaces and densities to encourage children to explore and develop a wide range of skills.”

You can read more about the concepts and thinking behind this design and ZPZ partners' work in issue 8 of Children in Europe magazine.

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