Looking at the designs of buildings and interiors designed for children by the architects of xy studio, one can feel an overwhelming desire to return to childhood. Although most of us don't normally wish this, colorful rooms, original furniture and ingenious solutions in a modern setting do their job.
The nursery and kindergarten in Suwałki is where the children of "Forte" Furniture Factory employees spend their time. They can fit up to 150 of them there! Architects from XYstudio took into account the issue of the "Polish cold pole" - the building is located on the edge of the city, in a beautiful meadow, which, however, is very windy. The designers decided to design a low spreading building with extensive small architecture for children's use - a playground with a sizable sandbox and swings.
Kindergarten and nursery arranged in relation to the sun
The location of the sun determined the positioning of the building on the plot and its functional layout. A nursery was located in the east wing, as children need light for their morning work. After a nap, they spend the afternoon outside. Hence, during the warmest months, the building, thanks to its layout, casts shade on the playground located close to the halls.
The halls connect with terraces, the terraces with playgrounds and greenery
© xystudio
The kindergarten was placed in the west wing. Older children no longer sleep during the day, so the longer-lit classrooms are a great asset to the space. The kindergarten classrooms overlook a garden with a small greenhouse, while the playground is located on the south side so as not to distract children during activities. Around the playground, the architects decided to plant trees to protect the playing children from excessive sunlight in the future. Two toilets were also designed outside.
multifunctional terraces
The building's plan was inscribed in an H-shape. Thus, two patios have been created: an "entrance-general" and a "garden-children's" one. The whole was surrounded by multifunctional covered terraces. Among other things, there are built-in sandboxes created especially for small children, so that they do not stray too far from the halls and the watchful eye of educators. The canopies provide shelter from both rain and sun. The architects made openings in them, which were thoughtfully designed so that each sandbox is partially shaded. The halls have direct access to the terrace when the large windows are pulled down. This makes it possible to expose the tables to the fresh air.
The room has ladders, a wall of mirrors and swings. On rainy days it makes an ideal covered indoor playground
© xystudio
In summer, when the sun is high, the roofs protect the halls from overheating. In winter, when the sun is low, they let warm rays into the halls. In addition, they are all illuminated by skylights that let in diffused light, making the deeper parts of the hall bright and illuminated by natural light. In addition to the obvious protection from wind and sun, the terraces have become great "doormats" and protect the interior from mud and sand.
designing with children in mind
"The heart" of the building is a large multipurpose room illuminated by glazing from the patios and skylights. The room has ladders, a wall of mirrors and swings. On rainy days it makes an ideal covered indoor playground.
The halls connect to terraces, the terraces to playgrounds and greenery. Along the eastern border of the plot are made flowerbeds, beds for children and a small greenhouse where vegetables are grown. In the extensive garden grow bushes of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and many other "tasty" plants. On one of them stands a small windmill that powers the lighting of the area.
The building has been adapted to the scale of a child. The canopy was lowered, which meant that the rather high volume does not overwhelm, and children feel comfortable here
© xystudio
As in the design of the Zebra Music Kindergarten in Wilanow, here too the architects were tempted to include special attractions for children. In the Suwalk kindergarten, this is a spiral slide mounted on the front facade, accessed by steps accessible from the entrance patio. The building has been adapted to the scale of the child. The canopy has been lowered, making the rather high volume not overwhelming, and children feel comfortable here. The kindergarten, which looks relatively small from the outside, is only growing on the inside, which can be felt just by entering each room.
