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Transformation of Villa d’Este into a Daycare Center
Name
Josephine Bailey
Education degree
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Architecture
Institute
Architecture and Space
Program
Spatial Design - Architecture, Design and Interiors
Year
2025
My project explores how architectural interventions can transform a historic 1918 villa into a daycare center. By building on existing qualities and introducing new elements, the design supports children’s play, imagination, and sense of wonder, while bridging historic architecture with contemporary pedagogical needs.
Facde
Site plan
Villa d’Este is part of the former psychiatric hospital, Sankt Hans Hospital. Sankt Hans is located on the outskirts of Roskilde. The villa was originally built as a patient residence for the noble Miss Treschow.
Villa` d Este timeline
The project began with an analysis of Villa d’Este’s spatial character, identifying architectural elements that shape its identity—such as materials, colors, decorative rosettes, and the original staircase. These elements were studied in detail to understand their role in the building’s atmosphere. Alongside the architectural investigations, I conducted anthropological fieldwork in daycare institutions, interviewing caretakers and observing children’s behavior and movement patterns. Together, these two strands of research became the foundation for designing both the space planning of the new daycare and the central staircase that connects and transforms the villa.
Analysis of the existing
Spatial character analysis
existing staircase analysis
findings from fieldwork
The new staircase is inspired by the original staircase found in the villa. The design seeks to create a dialogue between the existing house and the new program. It is tailored in scale to suit the building’s new users and incorporates various built-in functions such as a wardrobe, play tower, play nook, and reading corner.
new staircase
Proposed plans and sections
sections
Plans
Collages
Isometric drawing of the new staircase
The Royal Danish Academy supports the Sustainable Development Goals
Since 2017 the Royal Danish Academy has worked with the Sustainable Development Goals. This is reflected in our research, our teaching and in our students’ projects. This project relates to the following UN goal(-s)
