Workshop: Once upon a time, there was a garden

Spring begins and, with it, gardens start to shine and fill with color.

Designing a garden was the theme chosen, together with the school’s teacher, for a workshop with second-year preschool students at CEIP Santa Teresa in València.

Inspired by Roberto Burle Marx, we introduced four- and five-year-old students to the importance of design in gardens. During the session, we explained how the role of the landscape architect is key to finding a balance between paved and natural areas, as well as the importance of color, and how textures and scents influence people who visit gardens.

To make the workshop engaging and enjoyable for the children, we divided the session into two parts:

The first part consisted of a presentation in which we showed the different elements that can be part of a garden: grass, trees, water, flowers, paths, or play areas. This presentation was accompanied by a warm and friendly story in which the main character, Mr. Max (Burle Marx), helped a sad white house with a lifeless garden transform into a space full of color, textures, and fun.

The second part focused on building a model. As a starting point, the children were given a white house on a blank sheet of paper (their garden), and for a few minutes they became little landscape architects.

As often happens when working with children, their limitless imagination took over and led to unimaginable gardens. With great enthusiasm, they explained the decisions they had made in their designs. Surprising, magical proposals emerged—far more complex than we had initially imagined.

The entire workshop was possible thanks to the willingness of Isabel, the teacher, who suggested the idea of designing a garden. From that proposal, we developed an activity that simulated an architectural process, adapted, of course, to the students’ age.

The conclusion from Piano Piano was clear:
why not involve children in designing the spaces they inhabit?

It would never have occurred to us to create an area for animals, place a ladder to climb onto the roof, or include a trampoline for parties with friends…

Without a doubt, children’s boundless imagination leads to truly brilliant results.