Europe 40 Under 40 Awards Tell a friend
ARCHIVE 2018
Polzela, Slovenia
Architecture: Matic Lašič, Mojca Gregorski
Landscape architecture: Andreja Zapušek Černe, Damjan Černe
Photographer: Miran Kambič
The new building reads volumetric characteristics of the old existing building and at the same time takes into consideration social and public needs of the neighboring community. The architectural concept emerges from the idea of repeating elongated volumes of old structure, while using more open functional organization and new materials. Modular size of units gives possibility of changeable functions. Seniors’ community Centre, teacher’s meeting room, playroom, gym, etc. New project is rethinking kindergarten typology and program integration into a social and cultural larger context. It is consequently improving the quality of public life.
The location is defined by existing building (old kindergarten with 10 playrooms) and mostly flat terrain. Investor’s demands for new kindergarten were realized as a new building attached to the old structure.
Despite centrally positioned location, the settlement Polzela not only did lack kindergarten but also public spaces or any other identity centers. New building structure with new program should integrate into social and cultural larger context. New project incorporates space for seniors and small gym for public use, therefore building serves as small community Centre.
The building’s plan is composed of four elongated volumes (referring to the old building) with double sided orientation (east and west). Two differently orientated units (modules) occupied by groups aged 3-6 years (five units) are connected with common space that serves as main communication and wardrobe at the same time. Modular size of units gives possibility of changeable functions. Seniors’ community Centre that occupies one of the same units could be easily converted to the playroom, room for teachers, seminar room etc. Smaller gym for children or public use that spreads over two modules is positioned next to the entrance, with extra window that communicates with visitors outside. New functional organization reflects in exchanging and interconnecting playrooms, creating various views and allowing constant contact with nature.
Interior of the object surprises with particularly bright spaces, height variations, light effects and clever solutions of use of mixed spaces. Main communication (wardrobe) is lightened naturally through roof windows. Glass surfaces, round domes and sliding doors are (inter)connecting playrooms, toilets and common spaces. In the interior, wooden walls and wooden pitched roofs are creating height differences and feeling of bright and open spaces.
Construction of the building derives from different parameters: low budget, short time of building (4 months) and pleasant interior with good acoustic. Wooden wall and roof panels are leaning on few built structures (toilets in the middle). Relation towards construction is honest: wood is visible in the interior and in the layers of the roof in the interior. Doors and windows are wooden; façade is mostly in glass, only one is made out of cement composite panels that are continuing into the roof.
Kindergarten as a public building needs to minimize the maintaining costs. To reduce the heat loss, a system of forced ventilation with heat recuperation (injection of fresh air heated by the exhausted air) has been installed. Floor has connection to use of natural energy (biomass), while cooling is provided by mechanical or with natural systems. Despite mechanical installations, building design allows natural ventilation (openings on two sides of the building) and natural cooling (extended roof for natural shadow). Design of roof gives lots of natural shadow and prevents sun to additionally hit playrooms. East orientation has bigger roof (using of spaces in the morning), west shorter (using of spaces in the afternoon).
