A New Landmark for Barbiano, South Tyrol

In the municipality of Barbiano, South Tyrol, a new project has remodeled the entrance to the village. Constructed in timber and painted olive green, this mixed-use complex comprises a preschool, daycare center, cafeteria, visitor center, and new pedestrian connections.

The project, by Roland Baldi Architects, is part of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and was funded by the European Union under the NextGenerationEU scheme. The project combines education, transportation, and local development in an architecturally well-defined structure, creating a new hub for the local community.

Two buildings, one vision

The complex comprises two independent buildings on opposite sides of the road. On the uphill side is the early childhood center, made up of a preschool, daycare center, cafeteria, and a protected play area. On the opposite side is the visitor center, equipped with public restrooms and a reception area.

The entire complex stands atop a former two-level underground parking garage. The steep site required a horizontal stratification of functions, with mechanical rooms in the basement, the classrooms a level up, and then the roof, designed as a safe outdoor play area for children. The complex, constructed entirely of timber, sits on a solid concrete podium that anchors it to the slope. Both functionally and architecturally, the bridge that spans the road linking the two buildings is a distinctive element.

>>> Discover the Carracci schools, a mixed-use hub for the Bolognese community, designed by tiarstudio + ABP architetti

Education and space: An intentional alliance

The architects approached the early childhood building as a dynamic organism to support teaching based on movement, exploration, and autonomous learning. Classrooms are not simply enclosed rooms but themed environments – flexible, changeable places for discovery. The common areas flow into activity zones – play niches and smaller, more intimate spaces – that contribute to creating a stimulating school day.

With two classrooms and the children’s cafeteria located partially below ground, the use of natural light to make these spaces more open and welcoming is a key element. On the first floor, the self-contained preschool and the daycare areas each include a playroom, nap area, play kitchen, cloakroom, bathrooms, and an interior terrace. On the top floor, a multipurpose movement room opens onto a protected outdoor play area. From the playrooms to the cafeteria and multipurpose room, the architects have shaped spaces ideal for growth and learning on a scale usable by young children.

The building was constructed to CasaClima Gold standard. A heat pump, supported by a controlled mechanical ventilation system, supplies heating. Interior spaces are characterized by light-colored materials, abundant natural light, and the extensive use of wood, with oiled floors, solid-wood furnishings, and sound-absorbing wood ceilings creating a calm atmosphere that is ideal for children.

A tourist facility woven into the village fabric

On the other side of the road from the early childhood building is the visitor center. As well as an information counter, this independent volume houses accessible restrooms for visitors.

With a dedicated stop, speed bumps, vehicular circulation, and pedestrian routes, the new bus drop-off/pick-up area contributes to a safer, more intuitive use of the public spaces, integrating them into the fabric of the village.

>>> Discover the preschool and childcare center in Chienes, designed by Roland Baldi Architects