intertwine
Montessori School
MONTESSORI METHOD
● Maria Montessori - Italian Physician, Educator, & Innovator
● Worked in the medical field, focused on psychiatry but took great interest in educational theory.
● 1907 - Opened a full-day childcare center in San Lorenzo
● Recognizes children learn in different ways and accommodates all learning styles
● Simple, uncluttered aesthetic guides the design with natural light and warm materials
● Freedom within limits. Encourages a child’s innate sense of wonder & curiosity through joyous learning.
ATTENTION RESTORATION THEORY
● Exposure to nature provides restorative effects: concentration and focus
● 4 Components
○ Being away
○ Soft fascination
○ Extent
○ Compatibility
● Attention Restoration & ADHD
○ Children spending time outdoors vs developing ADHD
○ Future ADHD treatment
■ 62% of children diagnosed with ADHD are on meds for symptoms
■ ADHD diagnoses = increasing
The Montessori Method embraces a child’s natural curiosity, a sense of wonder of the world around them. Enchanting environments invite exploration, nurture creativity, and provide a source of inspiration. The Attention Restoration theory supplements this with a belief in the power of nature. Effortless curves and a continuous flow create a connected system like that of the natural world, which will provide a sense of internal focus and calm.
● 54 stories dedicated to commercial use
● Prominent waterfront site
● Responds to placement next to train tracks and Chicago River
- 150 North Riverside, Chicago
PROJECT GOALS
● Focus on materiality and spatial organization to use exposure to nature as a natural and accessible form of ADHD treatment due to a rise in diagnosis.
● Foster a sense of community through spaces that encourage interaction and relationship-building.
● Incorporate familiar, repeated elements to provide a continuous sense of safety and comfort as the child moves throughout the skyscraper to the Montessori school space.
