Demolish or modernize? While the answer seems simple from an environmental perspective, this does not translate into real action everywhere. A great field for gaining experience in this matter is educational and childcare facilities. Polish cities are equipped with a fairly dense network of nurseries, schools and kindergartens, but many of them still remember the times of the previous regime. For asman pieniężny architekci, age was not reason enough to replace nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw with a new building. Instead, they carried out an adaptation that restored its modernist spirit.
Warsaw now has nearly 80 nurseries and 400 public kindergartens. A significant number of these establishments are still located in buildings that still remember the times of the previous regime. The architecture created at that time was a compromise between functionality and the need to rapidly modernize the country, including the construction of educational infrastructure. It was at this time that the famous thousandlatki, which are still the backbone of the architecture of Polish schools, were built, while the increase in the number of kindergartens and nurseries went along with the construction of new large housing estates.Many of them were built using large-panel technology - this was also the case with the nursery school at 5 Motorowa Street in Warsaw, which recently underwent its second modernization in its history.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
in this case, more meant better
The modernization of the nursery on Motorowa Street in Warsaw consisted of expanding the body of the earlier building to the south. By reorganizing the space and adding additional volume, the nursery gained several new modules. As a result, the number of children served by the facility more than doubled - now there can be 200. At the same time, the architects largely redesigned horizontal communication and the layout of administrative and accompanying rooms, optimizing the use of space.
The functional layout of the building was also modernized, making it possible to create modern technical facilities, locker rooms for employees, and hygiene and sanitary rooms. The first floor and first floor, in addition to children's group rooms, include administrative areas, kitchen areas and common spaces. The comfort of the facility is enhanced by dedicated rooms, including a room for nursing mothers.
- The architects explain.
The nursery's interiors have gained plenty of additional light, and the children's rooms, equipped with new wall-mounted furniture, are now not only bright, but also better ventilated.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw.
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
nursery as before
The architects decided on a stylistic return to their roots, which for the nursery are the aesthetic features of Modernism architecture:
on an urban scale, a measure of the success of our action is that the residents of the surrounding buildings, when asked which building was modernized, did not notice the change - this is the best proof for us that we are acting in the right way.
- write the architects about their implementation.
In reality, there have been not so few changes. To find out, just go back in your memories (or take a peek at Google Street View) to the time fresh from the thermal modernization of the kindergarten, which took place in the early 2000s. At that time, the modernistic block was covered with an additional layer of insulation, which was covered with colorful plasters, typical of the turn of the century. These, while not stunning from the start, aged quite badly - the colors faded, and the plaster surfaces grew algae.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw.
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
The designers decided to restore the building's modernist character - gone were the colorful walls and the asymmetrical pattern painted on them. Their place was taken by white, structural plaster, thrown on the stretches of the walls in thick layers. Together with the snow-white color, they create a varied texture, which on sunny days makes the building covered with rich chiaroscuro.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw.
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
return of minimalism
It's hard to say to what extent the simplicity is the result of a limited budget and to what extent a conscious choice by the design team, but minimalism in the nursery on Motorowa Street in Warsaw is essentially the main means of expression. The designers dispensed with the almost makeshift arcade, supported by two steel pillars, formerly preceding the nursery's entrance. In carrying out the reconstruction, they also decided not to enrich the facade with additional detailing, but replaced elements that did not fit with the chosen concept. Thus, new concrete window sills appeared, as well as white-painted metal sheets, supporting the tops of the walls.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
Beijing nursery
If the ascetic expression of the modernized nursery seems incompletely appropriate to the function served by the building, it is worth looking at it a bit more broadly, taking into account the local context. After all, Nursery No. 31 is located in the western part of Goclaw and functions within one of the most interesting neighborhoods of postwar modernism in Warsaw. We are talking about Przyczółek Grochowski, or the famous Pekin, designed by the Hansen couple and built by 1974.
We act with respect for what we found - not aggressively, but with humility towards the existing structure. In the project in question, we enhanced the original massing of the building without changing the character of the neighborhood. It was crucial to preserve the original spatial and urban values that the building had shaped over the years of its existence.
- write the architects on their realization.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
it's fun (and green) all around
A playground is an essential part of any childcare facility. In the case of nursery No. 31, it was no different. The first years of life are a time when children experience extremely intense development. Their needs, physical conditions and cognitive abilities change rapidly from month to month. Providing convenient conditions for the different groups of children who attend the nursery can be a challenge. To meet it, the architects divided the playground space, located at the rear of the building, into four sections, radiating out from the south elevation. Each of the segments was adapted to the age of the children who will spend time in them.
The great value of the plot on which the nursery is located is the greenery. Perhaps it is the reason why residents of the surrounding neighborhoods have not been able to notice the modernization. After all, the nursery on Motorowa Street is a building that is surrounded on almost all sides by tall trees and shrubs. Their preservation was an important part of the approach the architects took when working on the modernization:
The existing greenery was carefully preserved and enhanced with new plantings. Natural grass-covered "hills" and small architecture were placed in the area.
- explain the authors of the concept.
Modernization of nursery school No. 31 in Warsaw
Photo: Nate Cook © asman pieniężny architekci
modernization is the future
The modernization of nursery school No. 31 on Motorowa Street in Warsaw is another recent example of successful adaptation of a former educational building. Similar work was carried out at nursery school No. 422 in Warsaw, and the modernization of the school in Domaniow is also noteworthy. The requirements for such buildings have changed considerably since they were built. This, however, does not mean that we should give up on structures that can still withstand decades.
Nowadays, we can safely say that it is becoming an "innovative" approach to almost every area of our lives to repair and transform what already exists in a thoughtful and sustainable way, taking into account the idea of circularity of materials. From furniture to household appliances to buildings, conscious management of resources and the pursuit of extending their lifespan is the key to a sustainable future.
