Wood and clay, one with nature: Kita Kiel-Dietrichsdorf

Urban settlement

The 2-storey day nursery for 64 children is to be built on the old football ground in Geldbeutel. By burying the first floor in the terrain, the complexity of the height gradient becomes a defining architectural feature. The cubature continues the adjacent perimeter block development and creates a visible and wind-protected inner courtyard situation thanks to the L-shaped form.

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Uses

The first floor houses the utility rooms, the management and staff area and the spacious multi-purpose room, which extends into the access zone. The upper floor is accessed via a sculptural learning and play staircase. The staircase forms the heart of the building. The main rooms are located on the upper floor: two group rooms with a bedroom, workroom and sanitary block each form a unit. This gives the U3 and Ü3 areas their own zoning.

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Material and atmosphere

The choice of clay for the first floor and wood for the upper floor creates a sustainable combination of materials that expresses the connection with the location and nature in a special way. While the first floor opens out onto the street, giving the daycare center a prestigious address, the glass façade of the upper floor facing the inner courtyard blurs the boundaries between the exterior and interior. The group rooms themselves offer a more private atmosphere.

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