Down the Rabbit Hole: Merging Education, Neuroscience and Wonderland in Architectural Design

The goal of this project is to reimagine learning spaces by combining education and architecture principles and a hint of imagination. This is done through designing a school in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. for children aged 3-12. The design integrates Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio principles with behavioral and neuroscientific insights. Additionally, the imaginative essence of "Alice in Wonderland" brings a whimsical dimension, adding an enchanting layer to the architectural narrative. The design of the school considers how space impacts cognition and creativity, in addition to functional aspects. Highlighting the bond between architecture and neuroscience, the design emphasizes how the built environment shapes children's cognition and emotions. Sensory experiences, architectural elements, and nature integration shape the ambiance, significantly influencing children's cognitive development. Through a blend of educational philosophies, neuroscience findings, and the timeless allure of Wonderland, it aims to sculpt an environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and profound world connection in children.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Architecture

Department dc:contributor.department

Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Kavousi, Shabnam

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Emmons, Paul F.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Dugas, David
• Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C.

• School
• Montessori
• Waldorf
• Reggio
• Neuroscience
• Environmental design cognition
• Alice in wonderland

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:38834

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/117328