Kindergarten Soittaja
We won the Kindergarten Vanhainen mini competition with our proposal Leijonanharja in 2020. Located in Kannelmäki, Helsinki, the kindergarten is a landmark on the main road of its neighbourhood, Soittajantie. The building offers learning environments for 224 children. Parts of the building are open afterhours for public use such as gatherings and free time activities. Kindergarten Soittaja has the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
The playful roof with alternating pitches descends towards the yard and shelters the terrace next to the building. The yard is protected from noise by the elongated mass of the kindergarten and its storage buildings. The main building is split in three, making it feel smaller. The street-side façade is made more interesting to the passers-by with a notch.
The central design principle was to give every space views outside. The narrow frame allows natural light to flow to every space. It also makes it possible to open views to multiple directions and through the building. The group spaces of the kindergarten are located on each end of the building and are accesed from a group specific entrance on the yard-side façade. Common areas, that are also used afterhours, are located in the middle of the building around the street-side entrance.
The kindergarten is build for children and adults alike. The spaces have a homely proportions, and windows reach the floor, letting even the smallest children follow the goings-on outside. These features make the everyday life of the kindergarten calmer. The exceptionally high amount of acoustic surfaces controls the soundscape and assures a soft room acoustics on the liveliest of moments.
Kindergarten Soittaja is designed for a long lifespan. Windows and rooms are arranged so that a change of use is easy. Both indoor and outdoor materials age tastefully and are easy to maintain. The long eaves shelter the façades from slanting rains and scorching heat made more prevalent by the climate change.
The environmental impacts of every facet of the building were carefully considered in order to qualify for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Materials were examined during design and construction. Recycling was meticulously monitored and documented. For example, the excess timber was donated to a nearby vocational school, where it was used to build playhouses.
The playful roof with alternating pitches descends towards the yard and shelters the terrace next to the building. The yard is protected from noise by the elongated mass of the kindergarten and its storage buildings. The main building is split in three, making it feel smaller. The street-side façade is made more interesting to the passers-by with a notch.
The central design principle was to give every space views outside. The narrow frame allows natural light to flow to every space. It also makes it possible to open views to multiple directions and through the building. The group spaces of the kindergarten are located on each end of the building and are accesed from a group specific entrance on the yard-side façade. Common areas, that are also used afterhours, are located in the middle of the building around the street-side entrance.
The kindergarten is build for children and adults alike. The spaces have a homely proportions, and windows reach the floor, letting even the smallest children follow the goings-on outside. These features make the everyday life of the kindergarten calmer. The exceptionally high amount of acoustic surfaces controls the soundscape and assures a soft room acoustics on the liveliest of moments.
Kindergarten Soittaja is designed for a long lifespan. Windows and rooms are arranged so that a change of use is easy. Both indoor and outdoor materials age tastefully and are easy to maintain. The long eaves shelter the façades from slanting rains and scorching heat made more prevalent by the climate change.
The environmental impacts of every facet of the building were carefully considered in order to qualify for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Materials were examined during design and construction. Recycling was meticulously monitored and documented. For example, the excess timber was donated to a nearby vocational school, where it was used to build playhouses.
Year: Competition 1st prize 2020, realisation 2020-2024
Client: City of Helsinki
Size: 2400 sqm
Scope: Learning environments
