School in Al-Riyād

The project is for a nursery school in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. This nursery school belongs to a large-scale international college.

The goal of this project is to be able to correspond to the image of an international school while upholding the cultural values of the country.

In regards to the project’s formalization, the organizational model in both pedagogical and spatial terms has been taken from Finnish schools, in terms of adaptation to surroundings and to users. Further factors include an analysis of Muslim culture and the physical context, such as weather conditions.

The main characteristics of the classrooms respond to the generous entrance of light through large glass picture windows and other window units, in direct contact with the exterior through the garden.

A lattice-work structure has been created as inspired by Arabic culture, which when placed in different parts of the nursery help anyone present enjoy a harmonious relationship with the place and with the new construction.

This project is novel and is different from what is found in other international colleges currently operating in Riyadh. The project is adapted to the country’s needs and to those of foreign residents.