Butterflies in the Harbor // Early Childhood Center | Ayelet Fisher

Butterflies is a Tel Aviv Municipality complex located in Tel Aviv Harbor covering 400 square meters. The complex is designed to be a home for parents and toddlers (mainly aged 0-3), that allows for quality time that will strengthen the connection between parents and their children, while creating a physical and emotional space for development.

The design concept in the complex was to create a fun and happy environment that will arouse creativity in children and parents and allow the imagination to take off. The furniture is functional, but is also the element of the game itself. There are abstract elements in the space, soft and rounded, that can become different things – a slide, a ship or even a theater. The concept that curiosity is intuitive in young children and should be developed is reflected in all my designs and I put a lot of emphasis on it. At Butterflies this is expressed in the fact that the children can move freely, use the space and the accessories that are placed in it in a different way each time to explore, develop, and learn while playing.

There are a number of internal and external areas in the complex. Inside the building you can find a foyer, a library, a studio area for activities and classes, a play area, and in it, a dark room. The inner area is characterized by soft and rounded lines, while the outer area is characterized by a rougher design style. In both areas, a lot of wood and touches of color are used. The project was carried out in collaboration with Architect Chen Steinberg Navon.

Photo: Itai Banit.