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Another fantastic new nursery in Japan is the D.S Nusery by Youji no Shiro

 
A simple material palette and a layout that focuses on a shared kitchen / dining and green outdoor play space makes for an excellent example of what an EC centre should be.


An arched blackboard wall separates the shared or "public" realm and the group or "childcare" space, with cubbies for bags and shoes cleverly delineating a locker / entrance space.


Internally, a simple material palette of white walls, timber floors, structure and joinery with hanging lights makes for a homely environment (that also takes children seriously).


A communal kitchen and indoor & outdoor dining space creates a lively "hub" and occasion around meal times.


Windows are placed at alternating heights inviting childrens' interaction.

The internal exposed beams carry on to the external overhanging eaves. While the "boxy" frames create visual interest to the otherwise "plain" corrugated metal facade.


All of the children's spaces face onto the internal outdoors providing much natural light, ventilation and access to play outdoors.


The shared internal garden play space features predominantly natural elements - trees, plants, an abundance of grass, rocks and tree stumps...

While man-made features include criss-crossing ramps promoting physical play (running, walking, cycling) and picnic benches encourage social interaction.


Deep window sills allow them to be inhabited (sat on, climbed on, jumped off)...


Here you can see the internal layout hierarchy - with children's rooms all facing the outdoors and the large shared playroom and kitchen / dining spaces - creating the sense of community and security.

"A learning landscape" is this concept by NORD for a marine educational centre


It is like a giant early childhood centre.


The idea of rooms being enveloped by an undulating or zig zag roof canopy, letting in or expelling heat/light and air as permitted has been seen in a number of early childhood structures before (like here, here and here).

NORD's adoption of the concept is probably because it is a fitting one for learning, advocating respect for the natural environment.

Says Molander Pedersen (partner at NORD Architects):

"We have developed a learning landscape where education is everywhere. It is in the landscape, in the building and in the transition between nature and culture."


Located in Malmö, Sweden, the new marine centre winning concept comprises of a 700-square-metre visitor centre with a large overhanging roof. The indoor and outdoor spaces are blurred - with activities in and out inviting users (children and adults) to explore the marine and physical environments using their senses.



Inside, further contributing to the learning experience the building's water handling, energy consumption and ventilation functions will be communicated to the building's users.


“With the changing climate, rising oceans and increased severity of cloudbursts, there is a need more than ever to understand the profound influence that marine life and the oceans have on our lives”, says Pedersen.

I look forward to seeing the built product.

Via Dezeen.

 

site by Ana Degenaar