The 2,500 m² site initially appeared to offer plenty of room for a daycare facility. However, part of it extended into a protected landscape area, and the building's proximity to the road created significant constraints. This meant the allowable building footprint was tightly restricted. Architect Andrea Schnieber of Architektur vor Ort in Engelskirchen developed an elongated structure for the "Rheinblick" daycare in Brühl that commands attention through its deliberately varied façade treatment while providing abundant open-air play spaces.

The design prioritizes freedom and independence: all service spaces face the street, while the five group rooms and ancillary spaces open eastward onto a generous outdoor play area. Mature trees, carefully transplanted from the original site, cast welcome shade even in summer heat. To accelerate construction, the team employed steel modular construction, a method that required partially submerging the structure—about half a storey on both the street and rear facades—before erecting the modular units above a concrete base. The façade solution proved equally deliberate. Respecting neighbouring heritage buildings, the street-facing and main entrance sides feature rendered plaster, while the upper level showcases coloured Trespa panels: sand tones evoking the ground, green for landscape, blue for sky and river, and a striking red that references the operator's brand identity. These hues resurface throughout the interior flooring, applied with restraint—the children and daily activity naturally generate sufficient visual richness. The 90 children's play areas feature open sightlines that encourage both cross-group interaction and independent exploration. Every detail reflects the age range served: windows positioned low enough for infants to see outside, sanitary facilities with toilets and sinks at varying heights, and a play-and-splash zone on the ground floor. Designed as an Efficiency House 55, the building achieves climate comfort through a heat pump with radiant floor heating, while an extensive green roof provides natural cooling during hot months.

www.architektur-vor-ort.de

Photography Credits:

Ingo Schoppmann
www.isfoto.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne 01|24)