Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, The Wonderforest is a nature-focused school designed within a glassy storefront of a mixed-use building. The program includes five classrooms, two play areas, a reception, and administrative spaces, all crafted to foster exploration and learning for children ages two to four. The young learners split their time between the school and nearby Prospect Park, immersed in indoor and outdoor nature-based activities. Tasked with translating the principles of forest school learning into an urban interior, the design team shaped The Wonderforest as a sanctuary of natural discovery.

Situated along a lively urban street, The Wonderforest features a transparent façade that maximizes daylight, visual connection, and privacy. Spaces are thoughtfully arranged along the storefront to create layers of privacy and activity. The most public layer, closest to the glass, includes the welcome area, The Forest, and The Wetland, open-play spaces that capitalize on natural light and craft an inviting streetscape for passersby. Interior elevation changes and dense plantings create secure and private areas that foster exploration, while classrooms and support spaces toward the back are illuminated by borrowed light through acoustic interior windows. These windows allow teacher supervision without exposing children to street distractions.

A Layered Journey
The transition between public and private spaces forms a circulation and gallery zone, linking various play areas and defining classroom boundaries. Inspired by the natural flow of water, a winding path begins at the entrance and follows the edge of The Forest. Overhead, an undulating ceiling with cove lighting enhances the path as it transitions into The Greenhouse. Tall windows and dense foliage create an immersive environment, fostering hands-on learning as children care for and observe different plant species. The path continues downward to wrap around The Wetland, a water-based play area that provides a tactile experience for young explorers.

A Vision of Abstracted Nature
At The Wonderforest, the principles of forest schooling are brought to life in an urban environment. Custom-designed abstract biophilic forms enhance the school’s unique pedagogy, encouraging interaction with natural elements like water, trees, and soil. The primary play areas are designed to reflect the experience of outdoor parks. The Forest, an open space with rolling terrain and abstracted tree forms uniquely crafted from sustainably harvested lumber, is a prime example. Recycled artificial grass creates a hillside, and suspended LED lights and swings add a sense of wonder, allowing children to develop spatial awareness through varied topography. The Wetland, a durable, water-centric play area, encourages tactile and sensory play with features like a mud kitchen and specially designed child-sized water table echoing a park pond to teach lessons in buoyancy, movement, and creativity.