![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e64f/e58e/ce71/dd00/0035/newsletter/PORTADA_010_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443751472)
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Architects: WE-S architecten
- Area: 1278 m²
- Year: 2009
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Photographs:Filip Dujardin
Text description provided by the architects. Six years ago, the city council of Kasterlee, a village at the outskirts of Antwerp, organized a competition to design a daycare centre for 120 children. WE-S architects came out on top.
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Image 3 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e4ff/e58e/cead/2100/0033/newsletter/022_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443751134)
Their design focuses on an absolute preservation of the existing trees and an orientation that guarantees a sufficient amount of daylight entering the daycare centre. It also offers broad views towards the southern playground.
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Image 8 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e5bf/e58e/ce71/dd00/0034/medium_jpg/029_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443751320)
This results in a compact volume that contains the administrative, technical and quiet spaces. In between this volume and the playground sits a transition zone, a transparent ‘outer room’. Two diagonal sightlines visually connect the street to the playground in the back by crossing the compact volume.
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e43e/e58e/ce71/dd00/0031/newsletter/015_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443750939)
These peepholes nestle the building in its surrounding context. A wooden fence at the west side of the building creates a private, enclosed playground. After opening hours of the daycare centre, the fence closes towards the building, making the playground publically accessible.
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Image 9 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e564/e58e/cead/2100/0034/newsletter/025_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443751235)
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Image 13 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e735/e58e/ce71/dd00/003b/newsletter/floor.jpg?1443751724)
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Chair](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e591/e58e/ce71/dd00/0033/medium_jpg/028_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443751273)
As such, the building presents itself as a modest protagonist within a green environment that is mainly dominated by giant, fairylike trees.
![Daycare Centre / WE-S architecten - Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/560d/e466/e58e/cead/2100/0032/newsletter/018_kinderopvang_LICHTAART.jpg?1443750982)