Kindergarten buildings present their own unique design challenges. These facilities must be child-friendly, meet functional requirements, align with a pedagogical philosophy, and comply with numerous building and technical codes. The same applies to St. Bonifatius Kindergarten in Steinbach. To realize the new facility for four over-3 and two under-3 groups, the aging existing structure had to be demolished—an opportunity not only to design a building with modern systems, but also to translate the kindergarten's pedagogical approach into both the new architecture and landscaping.

The architecture firm Kissler Effgen + Partner from Wiesbaden received the commission for the design in 2014. To find the optimal floor plan, outfit the kindergarten with energy-efficient and sustainable systems, and align it with the facility's pedagogical approach, architects, kindergarten management, and the client's representatives engaged in intensive consultation. The result is a new building on approximately 1,000 m² with banded façades that establish scale and proportion. Inside, the spatial organization and a dozen skylights create bright and welcoming group rooms. The architects placed particular emphasis on giving the building a spatial and functional center. They combined the foyer, multipurpose room, and food service area at the heart of the facility, creating not only efficient circulation and space for full in-house catering, but also a continuous space that can be used for celebrations and gatherings. The multipurpose room can serve as an independent unit for private events or seminars during non-operational hours.

"We coordinated the three essential disciplines—architecture, landscape design, and interior design—closely with one another. Through our collaboration with Bierbaum-Aichele office from Mainz (landscape design) and interior architect Pia Döll, every room was individually considered and designed in terms of its function and layout, material selection and lighting quality, as well as its relationship to the outdoor space," says Roland Effgen about the kindergarten project.

During construction, the kindergarten operated from temporary containers on an adjacent property. This allowed children and staff not only to witness the new building's development, but also to verify decisions regarding its build-out and furnishings on site. By now, everyone has settled into the new facility, and the enthusiasm is palpable. Client representative Dr. Winfried Becker commends the result: "Under the architects' leadership, a successful symbiosis of architecture, landscape, and interior design has emerged." And Christina Jungk from the kindergarten management is delighted that "our pedagogical concept of an open and welcoming environment is reflected in the architecture."

www.kissler-effgen.de

Photos:
Dietmar Strauß
www.dietmar-strauss.de

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 03|21)