Transformation of Villa d’Este into a Daycare Center

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.

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.