Kindergarten, Beilstein (GER)

Category :

Education + Research + Learning

Project :

New construction of a 8-group childcare centre

Client :

Stadt Beilstein

Country :

Germany

Area :

gfa 2.287 m²

Planning period :

05/2014 - 09/2014


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project new construction of a 8-group childcare centre awarding authority city Beilstein (GER) team WW+, Esch-sur-Alzette/Trier (LUX/GER) gfa 2.287 m² gv 8.609 m³ total area 4.049 m² net construction costs (KG 200-700) 4.000.000 € competition phase 05/2014 - 09/2014 restricted competition 2nd evaluation viewing

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Pablo Picasso

The discovery of architecture as an auxiliary educational tool has resulted in particular emphasis being placed on the identification of a new typology when it comes to day-care centres. Today’s understanding of childcare extends to aspects of time, space and atmosphere. With the objective of promoting creativity and encouraging a dynamic environment, we are integrating these new perspectives into the architectonic concept: a building complex, in which humans are the main focus, with rooms that depart from our viewing habits and broaden our previous spatial perceptions. The intention is to touch upon people’s sensitivities via form, colour, haptic interaction and light, to ensure that surroundings can be experienced in a positive way.

 

Incorporating urban planning

The architectonic concept foresees a compact building composition in a bid to reduce built-up surfaces in favour of green surroundings and places particular importance on the harmonic integration with the surrounding structures. The compactness furthermore allows a minimisation of the building plot, resulting in a maximisation of the sales space for the planned residential construction in the northeast section of the building plot. Given its standalone form, the building is a solitary structure defining a clear, identity-establishing conclusion to the adjacent Birkenweg. In doing so, the kindergarten moves away from the building plot boundaries in relation to Birkenweg, providing more space for the exterior spaces and ensuring an improved traffic flow. The shape of the building and its entrance are laid out so as to respond perfectly to the geometry and existing characteristics of the building plot, while enhancing the distinctive spot between residential buildings and undifferentiated town expansion structures and leaving sufficient room in the southwest section for the renaturation of the Söhlbach.

 

Architectonic concept

Access

The childcare centre can be reached by vehicle via Birkenweg, which will have demand-based parking spaces in various places. This main traffic axis will have parallel parking spaces (‘Kiss&Go’) so that parents can conveniently drop off their child(ren). Staff parking and the delivery area are in the immediate vicinity of the entrance area of the kindergarten.

 

Functional solution

On the basis of an analysis of the given space functions and uses, small units have been created within the large-scale structure, used in each case for supervision activities and organisation. To ensure a bright and friendly atmosphere in the main rooms, the latter have been laid out according to their functions and are facing southwest to take advantage of the sun. The group rooms of the day-care centre and the kindergarten, in each case comprising dedicated sleeping rooms and bathrooms, open up in this direction to an open space providing an uninterrupted view of nature, complete with the renatured Söhlbach. In addition to the rooms of the day-care centre, the ground floor accommodates the separate gymnastics room with a connectable dining room including a kitchen as well as associated ancillary rooms. The gymnastics room can also be used by external parties outside opening hours and as such forms an important focal point for the adjacent urban structures. The result is a functional network between the childcare centre and the neighbouring residential quarters. In addition to the generously sized group rooms, the upper floor provides children with an adventure terrace featuring allotment gardens, accessible via a mud room and leading directly into the outside play area on the ground floor via a staircase and a ramp system. This perspective results in new and interesting visual connections being created for the children. Thanks to their transparency, the skylights in the access zones on the ground floor, the terrace recess of the kindergarten as well as the glass entrance and foyer areas unveil visual relationships between the individual rooms, thereby revealing the spatial relationships, which in turn positively influences the internal communication. Through its clear structure, the design provides its users with a sense of security and orientation. At the same time, a sense of openness is achieved through the targeted use of material, light and openings.

 

Construction and materials

The façades reveal a structure that is broken up by a variation of light plaster surfaces on a simple reinforced concrete construction featuring a thermal insulation composite system, vertical timber slats with underlying opening casements for natural ventilation, as well as fixed glass elements. The fixed timber slats change the shadows according to the incidence of light, thereby creating different atmospheres on the façade and within the rooms. Educators and teachers can independently open the windows behind and thus individually influence the indoor climate of a room.

A continuous and child-friendly furniture design, consisting of wooden wardrobes and colourful seating, dominates the interior, creating a friendly and warm atmosphere and an invitation to linger and relax. In keeping with the comprehensive energy concept, robust, durable and sustainable materials have been chosen, which are easy to care for and maintain their appearance over a long period of time to guarantee the building’s efficiency.

 

Exterior space

Hedges and smaller trees as well as informal free-growing plantings structure the external grounds and a wooden bus stop with integrated playground equipment storage shields nearby motorised traffic and foot traffic from the outside play area of the kindergarten, creating the highest possible standard for the individual play zones (sand pit, climbing frame, lawn surfaces for activities). A section of the plot is ceded in favour of the renaturation of the Söhlbach, so as to create as natural and sustainable an environment as possible for the childcare centre. A further key consideration of the overall concept is to largely retain the existing tree stock as a valuable location feature and, in the event of trees needing to be felled, to replace and enhance them. The roof surface of the new construction will also be extensively greened. This will have a positive influence on the microclimate, keeping the rainwater on the roof and protecting the upper floor from overheating.


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