Calif. In an act of creative planning, the architect, Studio 9one2, of Hermosa Beach, negotiated a design with the California Department of Health Services that permitted the preschool to build on an undersized lot. They met state mandates by hard work and cleverness. Children scramble up grassy terraces and a ramp to the rooftop, where most of the play area wraps a pyramidal skylight.
Classrooms surround a central reading space under the skylight.
A separate set of external ramps lead through a tiny amphitheater to the entrance. Sensitive use of cutouts in the masonry walls, as well as a mix of materials opens the structure to its neighborhood. The design passed rigorous scrutiny by local planners and neighbors as well as the state. The limited above-ground exterior wall reduces cooling loads, lowering operating costs. Full enrollment was reached in six months, and there is a long waiting list.