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Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia

Architecture: Matic Lašič, Mojca Gregorski
Photographer: Miran Kambič

The new building is located on site of the old existing kindergarten with two additionally container unit. The new kindergarten is designed as a compact two-level volume from a wooden skeleton structure. Investors demands and different parameters were large program, zero energy building and small existing location. Functional extensive program, five playrooms, a place for additional activities, service (kitchen, laundry, storage rooms,) are organized around the central gym in the heart of building.

Gym with the central staircase, flexible wardrobes and external terraces on the first floor, organize in-between spaces "streets” and” squares” leading children to their playrooms or connecting the interior and exterior. The variety of interconnected spaces and blurred borders between programs and interior/exterior enables children constant contact with the extraordinary natural surroundings.

Interior of the object surprises with particularly bright spaces, height variations, light effects and clever solutions of use of mixed spaces. Glass surfaces, round domes and sliding doors are (inter)connecting playrooms, toilets and common spaces. In the interior, wooden walls and acoustic ceilings 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 and pleasant interior with good acoustic. Wooden walls and roof panels compose new building volume with large open terrace in first floor. Construction is honest; wood is visible in the interior and on façade. Doors and windows are wooden. Façade is wooden with large panoramic windows, small part of façade on terrace is from plaster.

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 (terrace roof for natural shadow).