Kindergarten over the vineyard
Designing the kindergarten at the extremly small area, in the winery village Limbach close to the Slovak capital Bratislava, was for us very challenging project. At the area of only 935m2 we needed to place classrooms for 40 children, dayroom, office for director, kitchen with facilities, playground spaces and parking area for parents and staff. Placement of classrooms at the upper floor was at the end the only possible solution. There are three pavilion in the kindergarten with the capacity of 10 children at the age of 3 years, 20 children at the age of 4-5 years and 10 children at the age of 6 years. Because of the lack of the space we had to place the technical section in the highest attic part of the building above the staircase.
The main visual element of the object is for children an easy comprehensible theme of house with a sloped roof and playful windows. The south-east orientation of the windows creates a direct visual contact with vineyard and this way also visually enlarges the green area around the object.
The main facade as well as the green and playground area for children lead to the vineyard. The windows parapets are lowered in the various way so that also the smallest children have contact with the exterior.
At the back facade there are placed only small windows, because at this part of the building there are communication spaces, kitchen, storage room or technical room. The exterior staircais with the wooden railing serves in the case of fire also as a secondary evacuation staircase leading from the upper floor.
Small windows hidden behind the wooden paneling iluminate from the western side the main communication area.
One of the pavilions with the capacity of ten children had to be placed above the parking area for parents. The pavillion stands at two columns and serves also as the roofing of the main entrance.
Behind the wooden paneling at the upper floor there is the sleeping part of the biggest pavilion. The highest roof ridge provides according to the local hygienic norm the greatest amount of air for children during their sleeping.
The dayroom is used not only for dining, meeting and mutual interaction of the children but could be used also for small performances, theatres or other events for parents.
The room is directly connected with the main entrance as well as the administration and the kitchen. The smaller storage room and toalets are just within the reach.
The vineyard changes its look during the whole year and children can observe this changes straight ahead from the kindergarten.
Behind the white wall there is the entrance for staff as well as for food supply. The hidden waste storage is placed under the staircase.
