With the concept of being a small town in the city, the ‘Kids' City’ - Modular Kindergarten proposal by Adam Wiercinski consists of a different approach to the everyday world of the child. The main idea was to create a welcoming and safe space, which becomes a part of an interesting architecture by functioning in the city. With a floor area of 95 square meters for 25 children, the basic module of the whole structure is designed as a single branch. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The structure of the nursery is like a small town - main street, extending alleys and connected squares with scattered houses between them. The unit contains a multi-purpose room, toilets, changing room, technical room and storage space for loungers. Its appearance was dictated by how children imagine buildings themselves – they usually see it as a small "cottage" with sloping roof.
In addition to the four branches, other "cottages" include: administrative part, kitchen facilities and exercise room. They are different in shape of the roof and material of wooden facades. Children's branches' roofs remains of a hut in the picture, but places where adults work, the administration and kitchen facilities roofs are arranged in rows, as in factories. The latter are located at the entrance to the property (for supplies or visiting parents), while behind additional door, with staff-only access, begins a secure child's world.
Construction of this object - a two-storey complex grid of container frames in three sizes, allows easy placement of modular houses inside, as well as to expand the nursery in any direction. Open spaces of the building are filled with terraces and gardens with greenhouses and crops, where preschoolers learn basics of ecology. During breaks from school, children can play on the playground or participate in performances on the stage.
Functional segments ("cottages") are connected by the hall area, whose task, in addition to communication, is to provide additional floor space and integration. It gives the possibility of any variable arrangement, adapted to the current needs and developments in the nursery (exhibitions, games, balls for children, etc.).
The whole building has 1770m ², including 940m ² floor area, and thanks to the modular design, can be arbitrarily increased or decreased. This building allows easy fitting in every area of the city, and the closed form becomes limited acreage itself.
