Day Care Center for Benetton | Alberto Campo Baeza

Day Care Center for Benetton, image courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza | Photo by Hisao Suzuki

Day Care Center for Benetton, sketch courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza

Spanish architect  Alberto Campo Baeza has designed the Day Care Center for Benetton located in Treviso, Italy.

+ Project description courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza

A BOX OPEN TO THE SKY

We built a square box composed of nine smaller squares. The center square emerges to bring light from the heights of the vestibule. The classrooms are arranged in the surrounding squares.

This square structure is inscribed within a larger, circular enclosure made up of double circular walls. Open to the sky, four courtyards are created that suggest the four elements: air, earth, fire and water.

The space between the perimeter walls serves as a “secret” place for the children. The courtyard spaces, tensed between the curved and the straight walls, are particularly remarkable.

Day Care Center for Benetton, image courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza | Photo by M. Zanta

The central space, the highest and with light from above, recalls a hamman in the way it gathers sunlight through nine perforations in the ceiling and three more on each of its four façades.

The children have understood the building well, and a book has even been published of their impressions. They are happy there.

Day Care Center for Benetton - Layout Plan, drawing courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza

Day Care Center for Benetton - Section, drawing courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza

Day Care Center for Benetton - Sections, drawing courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza

+ Project credits / data

Project: Day Care Center for Benetton
Location: Ponzano Veneto, Treviso, ITALIA
Area: 1868 m2
Project Date: 2006
Construction date: 2007

Architect: Alberto Campo Baeza
Client: Benetton Group spa
Structure: Andrea Rigato
Photographers: Hisao Suzuki & M. Zanta [zanta_m@yaqhoo.it]

+ All images and drawings courtesy of Alberto Campo Baeza | Photo by Hisao Suzuki & M. Zanta