The Garzón School in Uruguay is an Ecosystem for Natural Growth
Set amidst 38 hectares of untamed Uruguayan countryside above the nation’s famous golden coast, The Garzón School is developing a fully-integrated ecosystem to transform education. The vast and wild landscape is woven into the school’s identity and design concept developed by Rosan Bosch Studio to offer a learning environment that ignites children’s innate curiosity and encourages exploration, play and self-expression.
Joyful learning within a natural setting
The Garzón School opened its doors this year, with ambitious plans to construct a nature based campus in 2024 and create a bespoke, student-centered curriculum that combines best educational practice from around the world with the most rigorous academic standards. The school’s motto – Fall In Love With Learning – is underpinned by an inquiry-based pedagogy that draws on engaging, research-based teaching methodology. Guided by a team of highly qualified educators and inclusion professionals, learners embark on a journey of discovery and questioning that goes far beyond traditional school models. The school’s philosophy sees nature not merely as a supplement to classroom learning, but rather as the classroom itself.
The school is the park, and the park is the school
Following a winding path through prairieland and around a lake (the children have already dubbed it ‘The Donut’ on account of the island that sits at its very center), you will arrive at a clearing that will become The Garzón School “village” nestled among dense eucalyptus forest. This is where each student’s learning journey begins, and spirals out from as they develop awareness and agency. This boundless park, with its meandering creeks and promises of untold adventure, provides a fertile ground for imagination and exploration as part of an education devised by world-class educators that is only enhanced by nature. This is a bold reimagining of education today.
A pioneering design for exceptional learning
The design principles developed by the studio - Mountain Top, Cave, Campfire, Watering Hole, Hands-On, Movement - are feature strongly, but have taken nature into its center to marry the studio’s innovative design concepts with the pristine wilderness of the school campus. Nature informs the architectural premise and the choice of materials, which are locally sourced and carefully chosen to blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Subtle colors, natural light and warm, stimulating textures infuse the design concept, promoting wellbeing amongst children, educators and families whilst fostering a connection to each other and to the natural world. The Garzón School’s progressive design, innovative pedagogical underpinnings and unique location position it as a truly forward-thinking school and a standard-bearer in Latin America.
The Garzón School project
The Garzón School was born out of conversations about education between families who wanted to create a school community that valued inclusion, innovation and nature, and instilled in its children a deep love of learning. The search began across the gold coast region of Uruguay for educators, families and a space that embodied these values. 38 hectares of mixed prairie land, including a stream, lake and mature forest were purchased in 2021 to become the future home of an innovative learning campus.
TGS opened its pilot school in March 2022 to 36 students aged 3-9, focusing on innovative curriculum and project-based, student-led learning. Design and fundraising activities for the campus, classrooms without walls are underway, led by Rosan Bosch Studios, local families and community leaders. Slated to open in February 2024, TGS plans to disrupt the educational space with a non profit model that creates and shares original, research based project learning curriculum for K-12 students locally and across the globe.
Stay tuned for more details...