Project Name: 4 Modular Kindergartens

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Design Team: SUMMARY

Total Floor Area: 760m² + 760m² + 570m² + 570m² (Total 2,660m²)

Completion Year: 2023

Client: Municipality of Lisbon

Photography: Fernando Guerra FG+SG, Ana Gil

Feature：

Project - Portuguese architecture studio has unveiled a pioneering set of four modular kindergartens in Lisbon, showcasing an innovative approach to prefabricated educational architecture that combines rapid construction with thoughtful design.

The project, completed in 2023, demonstrates how standardized modular construction can create sophisticated educational spaces while maintaining architectural identity across multiple city locations. At the heart of the design is an ingenious system of "U"-shaped reinforced concrete modules that can be stacked and interlocked, creating a distinctive architectural language that is both functional and visually compelling.

What sets these kindergartens apart is their remarkably efficient construction timeline – all four facilities were built simultaneously across different Lisbon neighborhoods in just 13 months. This achievement was made possible through the complete prefabrication of all structural elements, including foundations, under controlled factory conditions before on-site assembly.

Each kindergarten, ranging from 570 to 760 square meters, is organized around a central circulation spine that houses not only movement flows but also cleverly integrates essential building services. The two-story layout maximizes the limited urban plots while ensuring all activity rooms maintain direct outdoor access – either to ground-level playgrounds or upper-floor terraces.

The buildings' exteriors proudly display their modular DNA, with visible joints and clear tectonic expressions that reveal how each prefabricated piece connects to form the whole. This honest architectural approach extends to the material choice of reinforced concrete, selected for its durability and low maintenance requirements while fulfilling the municipality's brief for creating recognizable public facilities across the city.

The project represents a significant advancement in prefabricated educational architecture, demonstrating how standardized construction methods can deliver high-quality spaces while minimizing community disruption during the building process. It offers a compelling model for rapid urban educational infrastructure development without compromising on design quality or user experience.

Design Team -  SUMMARY, established in 2015 at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, has emerged as a pioneering force in prefabricated architectural solutions. Under the leadership of founder Samuel Gonçalves, the practice has developed a distinctive approach to modular construction that bridges the gap between pragmatic building solutions and architectural innovation.

The firm, currently comprising ten professionals including architects and project managers, has gained international recognition for their systematic approach to prefabrication. Their expertise was notably demonstrated in the recent completion of four modular kindergartens in Lisbon, which showcased their signature "U"-shaped reinforced concrete modular system.

SUMMARY's commitment to advancing prefabricated architecture has earned them prestigious accolades, including the Monocle Design Awards' Best in Construction (2022), ArchDaily's Best New Practices (2021), and Dezeen's Emerging Architect of the Year Public Vote Winner (2020). The practice has also engaged in significant academic discourse, with Samuel Gonçalves serving as a Visiting Guest Researcher at TU Delft's Department of Architecture.

Through their research-driven approach and focus on accelerating construction processes while maintaining design quality, SUMMARY has established itself as a leading voice in contemporary prefabricated architecture, particularly in the institutional and educational sectors.