Montessori school & learnıng envıronment
📍 Location: Istanbul
🏗 Status: Concept Design
📐 Usable Area: 170 m²
👥 Project Team: Ece Çakır Aidan, Matthew Aidan, Nida Ataman, Gizem Kadıoğlu, Nur Kayalı
The Montessori Method fosters a child’s natural development by encouraging independence, confidence, concentration, and responsibility. This concept design reflects Montessori principles through a carefully structured yet flexible learning environment, where both interior and exterior spaces support exploration, self-care, and social development.
Seamless Indoor & Outdoor Connection
In Montessori education, outdoor spaces are considered an extension of the classroom. This design ensures that the school garden remains fully visible from the indoor spaces, fostering a continuous interaction between natural and built environments. Children engage in gardening, animal care, and environmental maintenance, reinforcing their connection to nature while developing a sense of responsibility.
Spatial Organization & Learning Zones
The 170 m² Montessori learning space is structured into distinct yet interconnected areas, promoting both focused learning and free movement:
Practical Life Area: Child-sized counters, sinks, and cleaning stations encourage independent food preparation and care for the environment.
Sensory & Academic Areas: Montessori materials are organized on open wooden shelves, allowing children to choose and return items independently.
Cultural & Arts Area: Designed for creative expression, this space integrates hands-on activities with natural materials.
Flexible Workspaces: Children can engage in activities at tables or on mats, allowing for different learning styles.
Sustainable & Child-Centered Materials
The interior design emphasizes natural, safe, and healthy materials, in alignment with Montessori principles:
Light steel construction ensures structural efficiency and openness.
Natural wood surfaces provide warmth and tactile comfort.
Non-toxic, child-friendly finishes enhance air quality and safety.
Design for Independence & Exploration
The space is open and flexible, with low partitions and child-scale furniture that allow unobstructed views and seamless movement. This approach supports self-directed learning while maintaining a sense of order and structure.
By integrating Montessori’s core educational values into its design, this concept creates a dynamic, engaging, and nurturing learning environment, allowing children to explore, create, and grow in a space tailored to their developmental needs.