Introduction

The nursery school Niños Esperanza was developed in the field of the project “Due sponde” financied by Cariplo Foundation, in 2011. The nursery school hosts 36 children ages 6 months to 4 years. The project was completed in a totally informal setting and with incredible contribution from the community. Both the infrastructure itself and the process of its development had an immediate positive impact on the neighbourhood and still do today.

Huaycán is a village that has fought hard to establish itself. It worked to obtain basic services such as, running water, a sewage system, electricity, and even the propriety title to its land. Currently, it has more than 160,000 inhabitants, living in zones designated with the letters A through Z. Most infrastructures there are not planned or are constructed with mats or wood on a provisional basis only for temporary use.

The nursery school has a simple construction of cement, brick and recycled wood, but the use of colour is the project’s key characteristic. The project features a large central playground with each corner having a particular theme: teaching, psychomotor development, an area to sit, and a dining area. The infrastructure also includes a playground, a kitchen, and toilets for teachers and children. The space provides the much needed comfort to focus on educational activities.