Architects' Studio, a Mauritius-based architecture practice and founding member of the Pangea Design Group, has completed HEI Schools Mauritius — an early childhood education centre in Forbach that adapts a former 19th-century residential labourers' camp within the historic Forbach Sugar Estate into a contemporary kindergarten for 120 children aged zero to five.
The HEI Schools Mauritius opened in September 2025 as the first Finnish preschool in Mauritius and recently won the Popular Choice Award in the Kindergarten category at the 14th Annual Architizer A+Awards.
Architects' Studio's design retains key elements of the existing built fabric — including longère stone structures, courtyards, shared kitchens, and wells — while introducing new lightweight timber and glass additions that provide additional teaching areas and technical functions. This is organized around a central garden that serves as a safe outdoor space and the heart of the campus.
Early Childhood Education Centres
Architects' Studio Completes the HEI Schools Mauritius
Trend Themes
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Adaptive Learning Heritage — Historic buildings gain renewed relevance when early education programs preserve cultural fabric while adding modern, child-centered functionality.
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Nature-centered Preschools — Central gardens and safe outdoor courtyards reflect a growing shift toward learning environments that integrate play, wellbeing, and nature.
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Lightweight Educational Additions — Timber and glass extensions create flexible capacity for schools seeking contemporary facilities without erasing existing architectural identity.
Industry Implications
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Early Childhood Education — Preschool operators can differentiate through culturally rooted campuses that combine global pedagogies with localized spatial experiences.
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Architecture and Design — Design firms are positioned to transform underused heritage assets into high-performance civic and educational spaces.
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Sustainable Construction — Low-impact additions and reuse-focused development models support resource-efficient building strategies for community infrastructure.