Kindergarten Susi-Weigel | Bernardo Bader Architekten

Bludenz / Austria / 2013

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Were you able to involve children and possibily also parents in the design process? If so, what was the wished expressed by the kids? Most of us have kids at home and even my wife is a kindergarten teacher. I spent a lot of time observing my kids playing at home and in the garden and figuring out what they miss or appreciate. This experience was definitely important for the influence into our design. In what way is it different to design architecture for children? Are the room configurations different (heights, simplicity, complexity etc)? Special needs? Open spaces, secluded spaces for example. Of course the furniture; all is in small format! Also the windows are lower so that the kids have also a view and can even sit on the breast. Roomheigth is normal …3m; The open spaces in the corridor are multifunctional – as playarea and also as meeting zone. Every group (5 groups) has their own play room plus a secluded room for exercises/movement, a storage and own toilettes. All groups share another room together where they can all meet for sport activities and events. What role does wood play in the architecture of yours, you have both used concrete and wood throughout the project? Is wood a more children friendly material, and/or is it part of teaching sustainability? The client/owner of the project – Major Josef Katzenmayer – offered us wood/trees from “his” own forest. This lowered ours costs also a bit and makes it even more sustainable and valuable. We wanted to keep everything very natural finished and by the strict ecological criteria. So there are no toxic elements used, all the wood is naturally treated and rough. This is also great for the feel of the surface (haptics) and for a conveniant atmospheric environment. Is any part of the construction done in timber, or is it all in concrete? The bearing walls in the centre (the inner core) are made of exposed concrete The ceilings and exterior walls are made of wood. The windows are big and generous, how would you say that the landscape outside interplays with the kindergarten? The kindergarten is situated more at the boarder of the city… these big windows are connecting the relation to the landscape. They see the mountains and the meadows instead of houses and other buildings. Kids feel more in nature than in town. Have you used other kind of wood materials than acacia and fir? Are there any special technical solutions applied? Fassade: Scots fir Interior Walls: untreated silver fir (very specific for this area here) The whole building has a self-controlled air-conditioning system; The building is based on a low energy consumption: 15 kWh/m²a and has a heat pump with a deep sensor down in the earth Have you done a lifecycle analysis of the building? No In what way does the building relate to the work of Susi Weigel? A lot of illustrations from Susi Weigel´s children´s book were inspected and out of these original illustrations were motives for the glass-marking done (as a safety action for the kids) by color designer Monika Heiss. This graphic-stickers are spread over the whole glass areas (mainly on doors) in the building like a web. Is it a private project, and/or is financed by the county/state? The project is not private! … it is financed by the town of Bludenz (one of the 4 bigger towns in Vorarlberg) lead by Mayor Josef Katzenmayer . And how many pupils are in the building? Around 100 pupils are in the building (max 23/ group) How is the facade treated? and what kind of maintenance have you planned for/do you expect? The façade is just rough wood without any treatment … and there is no maintenance planned … the façade just weatheres how it comes…
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    Were you able to involve children and possibily also parents in the design process? If so, what was the wished expressed by the kids? Most of us have kids at home and even my wife is a kindergarten teacher. I spent a lot of time observing my kids playing at home and in the garden and figuring out what they miss or appreciate. This experience was definitely important for the influence into our design. In what way is it different to design architecture for children? Are the room configurations...

    Project details
    • Year 2013
    • Work started in 2012
    • Work finished in 2013
    • Client Stadt Bludenz
    • Status Completed works
    • Type Kindergartens
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