Childcare Jarun
The Childcare in Zagreb’s quarter Jarun developed from 1980s onwards is providing space for 10 educational groups (3 for nursery and 7 for kindergarten). Considering the size and shape of the site it is conceived as the two storey building (ground floor and the first floor). The entire site has a dominant alignment east – west and a view to the Jarun's Lake, as well as an access from the north east and north west. It has implicated linear conception of the edifice which has ideal orientation for that typology which is toward south and south east.
The basic frame of the micro-urbanism is a pedestrian connection between east and west edges of the site, that link three separate entrances – for nursery, for kindergarten and housekeeping and administration entrance.
The "broken" volume is adjusting macro-urbanistic determinants of two dominant directions of the nearby buildings. It has functional implications too – a west wing has technical, economical and administrative character and an east wing include central facilities of the building.
Accordingly south part of the site is activated as a spacious playground and learning gardens.
The building comprises of three interconnected fragments: nursery groups at the ground floor, kindergarten units at the ground and the first floor, as well as technical and administrative rooms organised around a housekeeping yard at the west side.
Nursery section has 3 units, and a kindergarten has 7. Between them, in the ground floor multifunctional hall is settled which works as an individual room or it can be extended to the entering corridor, as well as the outdoor space during the major events. Ground floor units accomplish direct contact to the exterior space through sheltered terraces, while those on the first floor have deep balconies, so units could entirely open to them during the warm days. At the first floor to the south two spacious terraces are inserted, connected to the playground by stairs.
Fabulation of the facility is conceived through optimal function with the strong idea of accessibility, openness, transparency and sunlight with Linear volume is syncopated with terraces on the first floor, roof morphing, canopies and rhythm of the openings of various size and quality which decode functions of the indoor spaces. Main features of the concept are emphasised by usage of various materials (trespa plates, aluminium, glass and linoleum) so users which are mostly children can feel the qualities of the spaces and have almost tactile relationship to the architecture.