Salaspils is located in 30min drive from Riga center. Many young families with kids living in Salaspils, while working in Riga. New kindergarten was a necessity for municipality of Salaspils to meet the growing demand.
Adaptability and multi ─ functionality are the initial intention for the building. The building has space for 12 classes grouped in pairs. Each of the two groups is provided with a separate entrance from the outside with its own entrance hall. A decentralized access system ensures convenient daily logistics, especially during the active drop─off and pick─up hours. Three corrugated metal “Houses” mark entrances for kids. Designed as kindergarten, but the initial planning allows new premises to use also as a primary school, if it will be necessary in future. In the middle of the building there is multi use spacious "living room" and the center of the building, which can be used as canteen space and space for events. The music room can be seperated or united with the hall and amphitheatre.
The constructions and solutions shown in the building are MADE arhitekti' answer to the challenges of current construction practice: how to build economically, in a way that is good for the planet and safe for people. Excellent energy efficiency (12 kWh/m2a) with room comfort according to the Passive House standard. Load─bearing wooden structure and wooden finishes ─ the building's CO2 footprint is significantly lower, in line with future European climate goals. Indoor materials are harmless, with low emissions of volatile organic compounds and no toxic ingredients.
There should be noted, that building code in Latvia does not come along the climate goals, architects have negotiated deviations from the building code and received approval from technical commisson of State Fire and Rescue service in Latvia to be able to use timber structure for two level kindergarten. Thanks to Salaspils municipality, technical commission of State Fire and Rescue service in Latvia and Ministry of Economics.
Kindergarten has reveived Passive House Certificate issued by “Passive House Institute” in Germany, which makes kindergarten the first Certified Passive House public building in Baltics. Passive House buildings offer excellent thermal comfort and very good air quality all year round. Due to their high energy efficiency, energy costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions are extremely low.
