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Daycare

Montréal, Canada

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located in Montréal, Canada
completed in 2018
photo by ITTUE

Located in the corner of a multistorey building, this daycare occupies a rectangular space with two fully glazed sides and two without windows. The key design challenge was to meet regulatory requirements for classroom size and natural light.
Classrooms are positioned along the glazed façades to maximize daylight exposure, while zigzagging partitions help meet required floor areas and introduce playful spatial variety. These angled walls break up the rectilinear layout, creating engaging zones that encourage exploration and interaction.
Generous interior windows provide visual connections between classrooms and corridors, promoting openness, supervision, and a sense of community. Ancillary functions—such as the administration office, kitchen, storage, laundry, and washrooms—are grouped along the windowless walls, preserving daylight for the classroom zones.
The resulting layout is efficient, bright, and imaginative—balancing regulatory constraints with a playful, child-centered design that supports learning and discovery.