Peanuts | UID Architects

Humans and creatures exist as a part of environment, and architecture as a part of a place to stay exists as one scenery in the environment, too. The architecture is a shelter to protect the body from nature. Therefore it takes root in the land and tries to be separated in the environment of nature. However, I think that environment working on original animal instinct of the human is a state of the primary. In other words, the relation that exists in environment without being divided each other while I discover a place to stay in natural environment and accept environmental good and strict points is a natural state. It is that the entire environment continues changing every moment: for example humans, plants, creatures, geography of the earth, atmospheric state, etc. All the whole of creation, feeling that immutable thing does not exist in the world　connects “living” and contributes to the formation of the human who can sharpen the five senses and open his/her mind. In that context, it may be said that this “Peanut” is a first trial as a kindergarten that functioning for 0 years old babies. Space producing a variety of natural environment rouses architecture to bring up the sensitivity of an impressionable baby.

The outside space called the forest of the exploration is connected from the childcare space, and babies can take in the outside ground with a body depending on the time and the weather. Sometimes the natural environment is stable and comfortable condition, it is severe condition. I intend that it becomes the space that can take in “living” from now in a variety of environment by interacting with nature. One circle is the completed form because it has strong centripetal characteristics. However, overlapping two circles changes the form that has various vectors and is not centripetal. It is that it becomes the space that does not prescribe the domain as various places to stay, and it is connected to the environment gently. I expect that babies bring up sensitivity in this architecture because "Peanut" is not completed form by the same token and is a plant bearing fruit in soil.

The lowest height of the ceiling in this building is 2,100mm. So it is not inconvenient for child minders in particular with the functional aspect. I think about the scales: for example, expanses of the space by the level change by the slope of the floor for a flat ceiling in whole.

Because I think that contact with nature becomes "the place" of upbringing, so contact with nature becomes a pleasure.

Specifically, the babies’ space has the incline such as the gentle topography, they enjoy feeling “sunshine filtering through foliage,” “side fluctuation,” “creature in nature,” “fragrant in season,” and “the rainy sound” etc. in the environment such as the forest among the trees.

And semi-outdoor space having some slants and excursion characteristics surround a baby room has variety: a place of the exploration for children and "a gallery of the forest" can relax for pregnant women and mother.

I value confidence to join each other together from the relations of the eye level.

Specifically, I adopted one-room style while I zoned administrative parts (formula room, bathroom and office room) and babies’ room and gallery definitely. The glance of a childcare person and the baby becomes near, and security occurs by making desk height in the administration the same as the height of the floor of the babies’ room. In addition, judging from the glance of "learning from see" between babies, it becomes the natural relations. I intend to raise functionality by being able to look around the whole room on administrative side. I create rich environment by joining together for equivalent relations with babies and child minders / building and nature / person and natural environment.

It is the most pleasure for pregnant women laying a baby at an early date to see babies playing in the space that took in an element of nature not digitized artificial environment. I think the space becomes more vital by exchanging opinions about parental care in this environment.

Architects                           … UID architects – Keisuke Maeda

Consultants                        … Konishi Structural Engineers – Yasutaka Konishi 

Takeshi Kaneko, structural;

Toshiya Ogino Environment Design Office –

Toshiya Ogino

General contractor               …Home Co.Ltd－Hiroki Kadota, Masafumi Ichikawa

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Atsuhiro Masuda

Structural system                 …timber structure

Used materials                       …exterior; cider plate, wood protection paint,

 interior: structual plywood, exposed concrete, wood protection paint, cherry flooring

Site area 　　                       …1,501.81㎡

Built area                    　　　…  118.74㎡

Total floor area                      …118.74㎡

Date of completion                …March, 2012

All images                 …Hiroshi Ueda, ※UID