The Czechs are famous for building schools and kindergartens whose architecture could successfully be described as ‘grown-up’. What does this mean? Their kindergartens or nursery schools are not painted with colourful paints, there are no cartoon characters on the facades. They focus on minimalism and clean form, shaping the aesthetics of children from the earliest generations. One example is the new kindergarten opened in Šlapanice. Its design was prepared by architects from the ČTYŘSTĚN studio.
Another example of a minimalist nursery school is described by us HERE
In the heart of a suburban settlement in Šlapanice, a modest but important investment was made – a modern, minimalist kindergarten that successfully blends into the intimate character of the neighbourhood. The choice of the site on the plot of land formerly occupied by a corner shop determined the unique layout of the building. The architects’ original concept dispensed with the traditional storey solution, which usually locates one of the classrooms on a higher level. Instead, both teaching rooms are located on the ground floor, centrally connected to the cloakroom – a space that also serves as the main circulation hub. Extended terraces adjoin the front walls and garden, allowing the children free access to fresh air without having to change shoes. Large windows facing the street and the garden not only provide light to the interiors, but also seamlessly connect the outside world with the educational play area.
The upper floor, located above one of the corner elevations, houses the administrative and social facilities: the headmaster’s office, teachers’ room and technical rooms. It is from here that the entrance to the terrace, which is reminiscent of a ship’s deck, thanks to raised plant boxes and a striking spiral staircase connecting it to the garden below. The subtle white balustrade, which extends into the body of the building, remains almost invisible from street level, while emphasising the building’s elegant silhouette.
The main entrance has been shifted to the north and accentuated with an undercut part of the façade, which preserves the building line and makes room for a friendly kindergarten courtyard. This is where parents say goodbye to their children in the morning and where children like to play in the afternoon. This solution has meant that part of the front garden serves as an outdoor terrace for one of the classrooms, so that the interior almost blends in with the surroundings.
The design is based on simple volumes, topped by a usable flat roof where the seasons change every now and then. The facades are finished with warm clinker and wooden trellises in front of the windows, which visually warms the entire building. On the garden side, yellow translucent sun blinds soften the harsh rays of the midday sun, while large sliding glazing almost blurs the boundary between the interior and the green corner.
The interiors impress with their colours and ergonomics. As soon as you step through the glass doors, parent and child enter the central cloakroom in energetic yellow, from where you can almost immediately enter the two rooms, the kitchen or the garden. In the rooms, the bipartite zones – dining and play – are delineated by colourful contrasts and are supported by bespoke furniture that acts as both storage and play elements. Wide windowsills become places for relaxing and observing the world, while thoughtful materials: acoustic wood panel in the ceiling, soft carpeting and internal blinds take care of acoustic and visual comfort.
Although the garden is not impressive in terms of size, it has been designed with a variety of micro play areas: a sandpit with concrete seats, a wooden playground with a wooden spiral, a small podium with toy boxes, a section in the greenery with an ornamental cherry tree that will become a natural umbrella in the future. Clear divisions are delineated by materials – from concrete blocks at the entrance to soft grass in the sports area – so that children learn spatial orientation and the rules of play and boundaries from an early age.
All elements of the construction and finishing follow the idea of minimalism: ceramic blocks with insulation on the outside, monolithic reinforced concrete ceilings with acoustic panels, partition walls made of aerated concrete blocks, windows and doors made of wood-aluminium profiles with triple glazing, and the interiors are finished with natural materials: oak veneer on the doors or terazzo on the staircase. As a result, the new facility in Šlapanice has become a model of a modern, well-thought-out nursery school, where minimalism promotes the joy of children’s discoveries.
design: ČTYŘSTĚN (Milan Joja, Karel Kubza, Tomáš Págo)
photos: Pavel Barták, www.pavelbartak.cz
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