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Supported by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF), the Maria Manetti Shrem Educational Center’s mission is to improve the emotional and academic experiences of hospitalized children. To that end, Rome-based Alvisi Kirimoto designed the 2,700-square-foot pavilion on the Meyer Children’s Hospital campus in Florence to incorporate sensory gardens, educational zones, and play spaces. The center is sited on a slope between Via di Careggi to the north and the main hospital building to the south. A low-slung profile with a lightweight, upward-curving roof faces the street. Beneath this sweeping canopy, a transparent glass facade, equipped with an automated shading system, provides a 360-degree connection to the surrounding landscape. At the center of the building, there is a circular music room, with a perforated ceiling, sound-absorbing materials, and cutting-edge audio technology that optimize for acoustics. Several learning areas and spaces for family meetings have been positioned around this room.

Photo © Marco Cappelletti, click to enlarge.