Everyone's city

One day we decided to make paper constructions. Elena, 6 years old
Ah... houses... That's a very nice idea! Did you want to build like a church, a house? Caterina, 5 years old
So you wanted to build a city! Daniel, 6 years old

House. Daniel, 6 years old

My house. Diana, 6 years old

I’d like to make a skyscraper, you can make fountains, churches, a city that stands on its own! FIlippo, 6 years old
I need a giant paper! Daniel, 6 years old
I need big pieces of paper to make the building! Filippo, 6 years old
To make the walls you need striped paper. Catherina, 5 years old

Striped paper for the walls.

The biggest paper for the buildings.

Have fun collecting a wide variety of scrap papers to imagine and build incredible paper architectures, and perhaps parts of a city...

It’s difficult to make a shape with paper, because paper doesn’t stand up! Leonilde, 5 years old
You have to somehow stick the paper like this, like bricks. Diana, 6 years old
I start with the base. The base is where the house stands, where we’re walking. Caterina, 5 years old

We begin with the base where the house sits.

Take measurements to decide the height of each house/building.

Prepare coverings that are the right size to make roofs.

The door of a house has to be there or people can't get in... Leonilde, 5 years old
To make the stairs you need soft paper. Filippo, 6 years old
We need the bed too, if not you can't sleep! Diana, 6 years old

You can fold the paper to make stairs.

Windows, stairs, tables, beds... the thinking hands of the children can build structures, furniture and details for daily life without losing sight of relationships and fun, such as the playground.
 

But in Diana's house can we make a park with a slide afterwards? Asia, 5 years old
If you want you can make a playground! And then we put it near the house so the characters can go there and play! Diana, 6 years old

Building the slide.

Slide. Asia, 5 years old.

Building swings.

Swings. Asia, 5 years old

My house. Caterina, 5 years old

The tower of Reggio. Daniel, 6 years old

When you’ve prepared all the pieces, you can start to compose your paper city.

The city of Reggio Emilia begins to take shape in multiple constructive inventions by children. Starting with the houses, the playground and the bridge, a historic architectural element that connects the neighborhood and the city right where the Crostolo stream divides it, takes shape.


FIND OUT HOW TO BUILD A PAPER BRIDGE

TORNA ALLA MAPPA