Designed by Thoma. Lay. Buchler. Architects, this two-storey, 1,000 m^² extension seamlessly complements the original 1950s nursery building. The Breslauer Straße facility in Bietigheim-Bissingen now features expanded play areas and a striking new presence. A gracefully curved approach forms an inviting entry sequence, with a gentle, accessible ramp leading to the main entrance. Additional parking and a service area enhance functionality, while a preserved mature shade tree and wildflower meadow establish a naturally welcoming entrance zone.

Two existing cubic structures—partially renovated and reimagined—work together with the new construction to create a protected courtyard for the youngest learners. The new building makes its mark with a sweeping curved façade of pre-weathered vertical wood panels. The façade's appearance shifts with each viewing angle, creating an ever-changing interplay of light, texture, and movement. Inside, the spaces breathe with generosity and openness: soaring ceilings and expansive windows flood the rooms with natural light, while seamless transitions to the outdoors blur the boundary between inside and out. Skylights and strategically positioned group rooms ensure even daylight distribution throughout. A circulation corridor connects the group rooms to the sheltered, covered courtyard—an inviting, U3-appropriate play zone for the toddlers. Bright hallways and play corridors, designed with children in mind, double as Bobby Car racetracks. A new stair tower and lift connect the main level to the basement, which houses a movement studio with exercise equipment, a cosy children's library, a generous dining area with service kitchen, and a staff lounge. The material palette—wood, exposed concrete, and light surfaces—is unified by vibrant turquoise rubber flooring that flows throughout the building. Wooden wool acoustic panels absorb sound, while a sophisticated lighting scheme blends pendant and disc fixtures with individually adjustable light strips, allowing spaces to adapt to different needs. Thoughtfully detailed and woven into its landscape setting, the new building has become a place where children discover their world through play and grow together.

www.tlb-architekten.de

Photography:
Simon Sommer

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 04|25)