The Perfect School

By JOAN ALTABE
Architecture writer
Sarasota Herald Tribune
January 26, 1992

Color My World, a recently completed day-care building in Sarasota, is more than a box with crayons in it. It is a colorful space aimed at tickling children pink.

“I didn t want to just give the school square footage,” said architect Yehuda Inbar. “I wanted to create a space that kids will be happy to be in. I talked to educators and others who work with children.

One thing the designer learned was that, being small, children see buildings from a different eye level. They look at things on the ground.

Consequently, Inbar designed the sidewalk in front of the school where parents drop them off. He put a large sun clock there for children to look at, walk on and study. In that way, the fun of learning begins the moment children see the building.

And, to avoid the shut-in feeling a child might experience upon entering a building, Inbar allowed natural sunlight to illuminate the interior through large, round windows and skylights.

“Instead of standard low ceilings, which limit vision,” the architect said, “I used high ceilings and high windows so that kids can see the source of light coming from above them as they do when they re outside.

Inbar also created different levels in the space, as in a city, enabling children to sense three dimensions by going over and below the different levels.

Similarly, interior designer Caren E. McCormick created awnings, window shutters and win- dow planters to achieve the city look. Mock electric wires overhead with birds sitting on them complete the picture.

`Hopefully, it s like Disney World, which is an attempt to create the perfect city, says Inbar.