Architecture Meets Pedagogy: Creating a Reggio Emilia-Inspired Atelier at Bassac Garden Campus

By Karen Holmes–

The Canadian International School of Phnom Penh (CIS) has seen constant growth and development over the past decade. In 2023, as our Early Years Program continued to? expand, we decided to build an atelier (studio or ????????) where young children could work on projects, investigate and be creative with the support of teachers.?

Ateliers are common features of Reggio Emilia-inspired programs such as that at CIS. We recognize that young children learn differently than older children or adults. For young children, their play is their work! Children also have different talents and evolving interests. Some children will express themselves through art, others through their enjoyment of books and some through sport. An atelier setting can help us to nurture all of these disciplinary perspectives and prioritize creativity as a collective learner outcome.?

Perhaps not surprisingly, as we began planning our atelier, we considered how the architectural design could support young children’s creativity across disciplines. A talented team of architects from WISE by LBL, builders and teachers joined forces to share perspectives and ideas. We researched other Reggio Emilia-inspired schools and quickly prioritized natural light, spaciousness and flexibility as design elements. We also looked to? Cambodian vernacular architecture for inspiration. We discussed the student experience and the many types of flexible, child-sized learning spaces they would need to be creative. I visited the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia, Italy to engage in a study group and educational and cultural exchange. All in all, the creation of our new Early Years building–the atelier–was a rich, year-long collaborative process involving many dedicated professionals.

In October 2024, friends of CIS gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Donna Trafford Atelier at Bassac Garden Campus. By all accounts, our architectural experiment had been a success. Thirteen unique learning spaces encourage exploration of different disciplinary perspectives: music, art, drama, dance, the enjoyment of books, making and tinkering, light and shadow play, sport, experiences of practical life, and so on. A central, circular ramp eases movement between these spaces thereby encouraging collaboration. Each space has views of the greenery and blue sky beyond, and there is plenty of natural ventilation from the thermal chimney to ensure the children are comfortable at play.?

If you walk through the atelier today, you will see that beautiful architecture is already supporting creativity and meaningful play-based learning. Excited conversations about the birds, the sunbeams and the children’s latest creations fill the space. As a school, we see our atelier is an investment in the creative capacity of young people. As an Early Years team, we are excited by the many ways we can use this inspiring space to nurture the creativity of young people and educators in the future.

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Karen Holmes is Senior Director of the Early Years Program at CIS. Karen has more than 25 years of educational experience with a passion for the early years. She has a BA and a BEd.?