The Garzón School wins Architizer Popular Choice Award, Championing Nature-Based Education in an Age of AI

The Garzón School has been named the Popular Choice Winner at the 14th Architizer A+Awards in the Architecture + Learning category. The project also received a Special Mention in the Primary & High Schools category.

Chosen through public voting, the award reflects the growing interest in learning environments that place children's wellbeing, connection to nature, and sustainable design at their core.

A timely counterpoint to technology

The recognition comes at a time when many parents, educators, and researchers are reflecting on the role technology plays in children's lives. While digital tools have their place, The Garzón School was designed around something equally important: giving children opportunities to learn through direct experiences with the world around them.

Built entirely from sustainably sourced timber and finished using the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban charring technique, the campus sits gently within its landscape. Native vegetation, brick plazas inspired by local Uruguayan architecture, and playful wooden structures create an environment that encourages curiosity, exploration, and a sense of belonging.

The design reflects a simple belief: children learn best when they can engage all their senses and develop a meaningful relationship with the natural world.

A school as living landscape

Located on a 94-acre site surrounded by eucalyptus forests, meadows, and a lake in rural Uruguay, The Garzón School invites children to learn both indoors and outdoors. Nature is not treated as a backdrop to education but as an active part of the learning experience.

Guided by the idea that "the school is the park, and the park is the school," the campus is organised into six Learning Worlds: Mountain Top, Cave, Campfire, Watering Hole, Hands-on, and Movement. Each space supports different ways of learning, allowing children to explore, collaborate, reflect, create, and move throughout the day.

This award belongs to everyone who believed in a different kind of school. Every vote was an expression of trust in children, in nature, and in the idea that learning environments can nurture wellbeing, curiosity, and joy.

Among this year's recognitions, we are also proud to celebrate Klim-Op Zandbergen Public School, which received a Special Mention in the Educational Interiors category. Together, these projects reflect a growing commitment to creating learning environments that place people, pedagogy, and meaningful experiences at the centre of education.

👉Discover the project here.

We are incredibly proud of this project and the community it serves.