Curiosity Core Part 2 Project 2020 Jianan Zhuang University of New South Wales | Australia With growing urban populations and land scarcity, vertical architecture is becoming a strategy to achieve density and intensity of use. Programmes that have typically been horizontal are evolving into the vertical realm, including education, social and public activities. The Curiosity Core examines how Reggio Emilia, an educational philosophy traditionally focused on primary education, can influence the design of a hybrid office and educational building in Parramatta CBD, Sydney. The Reggio Emilia framework is orientated towards encouraging children’s curiosity. A Reggio-inspired design favours exploration, social interaction which stimulates an interactive experience and constructive learning. Spaces are not only provided for activities and daily routine but tell the story of a journey of curiosity.The Curiosity Core embraces this framework, providing spaces for dynamic exploration, constructive research, and collaborative sharing in a vertical setting. It challenges the monotony of high-rise architecture by replacing the central core with a collection of shared social spaces, linked to an open public realm at the ground. Environmental performance is paramount; the design uses a CLT primary structure fostering a low embodied carbon. A façade of terracotta fins provides shade against the harsh summer sun, whilst also filtering daylight into the spaces beyond. Tutor(s)