On
the border between a former urban/industrial development and a small forest
where new housing is being developed, this nursery school mediates between
different contexts and scales. A semi enclosed entrance courtyard constitutes a
first exterior space for parents and children meeting and leaving. The organic
layout encourages movement as space becomes continuous and creates both exterior
and interior rooms of challenging shapes. Windows are freely placed at
different heights and allow for light and views to be adapted also to the scale
of children, which further the relation between the interior and the exterior
play ground and the wooded hill.
Together with the client and the pedagogues’ inspiration from the Reggio
Emilia school, a new way to organize the interior was developed. The result is
a rather unorthodox plan, where instead of a complete ’flat’ for each group of
children, there will be a large common interior plaza where the six groups can
interact around different activities, playing and learning projects. This main
space is complemented with separate atelier spaces for water projects and art,
as well as small secluded group rooms for rest and quiet activities.
The facade panel, made of 50x50mm sawn wood, filters direct sunlight
into the nursery school and create hidden windows that underscores the curved
interior and exterior spaces. The building complies with the highest standards
for environmentally friendly and long term sound construction.