A collection of furniture and learning tools that turns the school canteen into an educational space, making mealtimes an opportunity for discovery, independence and active participation.
Grow
Thesis Project by L. Montanaro - Master in Design for Children - IED Roma In collaboration with Fondazione Reggio Children
Academic year
2024/2025
School mealtimes offer children much more than a chance to eat. They are also moments for learning how to work together, build relationships and become more independent. This idea is at the heart of Grow, a thesis project developed by Luca Montanaro, a student on the Master's Course in Design for Children, in collaboration with Fondazione Reggio Children. His work explores how the design of school dining spaces can support children's learning and development.
Luca's research focuses on the Melissa Bassi primary and lower secondary school in Tor Bella Monaca, Rome. By observing the spaces and everyday routines, he identifies opportunities to improve the dining experience and explores the connections between the environment, food and learning. Drawing on the Reggio Emilia Approach®, he places children at the centre of the experience, recognising mealtimes as an opportunity to develop practical and social skills.
His research leads to an integrated system of furniture and educational tools, including modular tables, trolleys for serving and clearing away meals, and resources that encourage children to explore food. Each element is designed to help children take a more active role in daily routines, fostering independence, cooperation and a sense of responsibility through simple, hands-on activities in a space designed around their needs.
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