Villa Portales Preschool & Kindergarten – Alacero Competition 2017

The project is conceived as a continuous elliptical form that embraces learning, play, and care within a single architectural gesture. The absence of corners creates a safe, legible environment where movement is intuitive and spaces remain visually connected.

An interior courtyard forms the heart of the building, bringing light, ventilation, and nature into the daily experience of children and educators. Classrooms open directly toward this protected void, reinforcing learning through interaction and play.

Steel defines both structure and expression. The elliptical ring operates as a continuous structural system, enabling material efficiency, flexibility, and long-term adaptability.

Rather than an object, the building acts as an inhabitable boundary, protective, open, and fluid, where architecture supports exploration, community, and early childhood development.

Ground Level
Patio Level
Exterior View
Interior Ramp Patio View
Patio level view
Interior view
Section Perspective
Section and detail
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