The concept of early childhood education as an institution has been
in existence for over a century. While an ongoing body of research
(Dahlberg, Moss & Pence, 2007) affirms the need for quality early
childhood services for the child’s successful development, the subject
of its architecture has yet to receive the attention it deserves. ‘The
architecture of early childhood’ employs a holistic design-research
approach that combines pedagogical theories, case studies and designed
diagrams, to provide early childhood and architectural practitioners
with a framework or ‘guide’ to designing future early childhood centres.
This research acknowledges the many approaches taken by architects
when designing early childhood centres, and thereby does not intend
to promote one over the other. Rather it advocates a thoughtful and
considered approach to design and offers a solid foundation from which
the “building blocks” of an early childhood architectural design typology
might emerge.