Montessori Foundation – Fuji Montessori Kindergarten Innovative Design

Fuji Montessori Kindergarten from Montessori Foundation Online News December 2008.(Montessori Foundation: http://www.montessori.org/)
Fuji Montessori Kindergarten in the Tokyo suburb of Tachikawa has recently moved into innovative new architect-designed premises.  Taking the specific needs and spirit of the school into account the architects came up with a circular building enclosing a central area.  While there are some aspects of this design that seem to run contrary to what one would look for in a Montessori school, there are plenty of design components that could be used to wonderful effect.   Particularly striking is the way the roof is used as a play area and the use of open spaces.  This design proves that school buildings do not need to be institutional, nor do urban structures necessarily exclude the option of having access to nature.  
See photographs at:
http://www.tezuka-arch.com/japanese/works/fuji/01.html
http://tinyurl.com/6zrhwr