Folded mat – an indigo kindergarten for Zagreb
Location: Ulica Dubrava 185, Zagreb, HRV Program: kindergarten for 250 children Client: Grad Zagreb Architects: Hrvoje Njiric, Davor Busnja Project: 2005 Construction: 2006-2008 Site size: 4653 m2 Size: 2300 m2 Photos: Domagoj Blazevic
The kindergarten is initially concieved as a single-story mat building – compact, introverted, autocatalytic, with clearly defined borders. Interior is organized as a sequence of spaces linked with „The Children Street“. It‘s meandering character and a multitude of in-between spaces, supported by the intensive transparency and colour coding, attempt to create a scenery of a true „urban“ experience for the child.
How to design a kindergarten on a too small plot ?
The children‘ and staff premises are completely intertwined. This typological innovation mirrors a series of didactic relations. A child can see women typing on a computer, the other ones counting money, sewing linen or cooking their meal. There is a man who receives the new goods, the other one controls the heating or repair the furniture. It is the major contribution of the project - the whole spatial setup is to be understood as a specific educational device.