The Department of Architecture at the College of Architecture organized the final exhibition for the students of the Design 2 course, under the theme “Designing a Kindergarten Inspired by Contemporary Educational Philosophies”. The project was supervised by Dr. Dalal Al-Sayer, Dr. Weam Abdullah, Dr. Sarah Malik, Eng. Muneera Al-Raiee, Eng. Dana Al-Hasan, and Eng. Dana Al-Khudher.

Students were tasked with developing architectural concepts based on educational principles derived from five globally renowned pedagogical approaches:

Montessori Philosophy: Emphasizing child independence and experiential learning.

Waldorf Philosophy: Integrating creativity and spirituality with active learning.

Reggio Emilia Approach: Promoting participatory learning and viewing the child as an active agent in their environment.

Anji Play: Encouraging free play and self-guided learning through environmental interaction.

Blank Street Approach: Focusing on simple everyday experiences and community engagement.

In their projects, students aimed to translate these philosophies into architectural spaces with functional and human-centered qualities. Through in-depth studies of children’s psychological and motor needs, their designs achieved the following:

Adhered to safety standards and prioritized children’s psychological comfort.

Offered flexible layouts that can adapt to future user needs.

Considered the local environment and climate by selecting materials and plant types suitable for Kuwait’s conditions, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability.

Students also drew design inspiration from influential architects and international architectural works, giving their projects a contemporary character that balances aesthetics, functionality, and educational value.

These projects reflect intellectual maturity and thoughtful design, showcasing students’ awareness of early childhood development and the critical role of architectural space in supporting educational experiences. They represent a promising step toward the advancement of innovative educational design both locally and globally.