Toranoka Nursery

Toranoka Nursery // TYO Takashige Yamashita Office

Year of completion: 2016

A neighbourhood nursery located at a site with a spectacular view of the famed Mount Fuji is made up of just a few houses and farms, giving it a peaceful feel. As a new community space providing a nursery area for the local residents and children.

The roof is lightly arranged in different perspectives, opening around all likely orders to allow physical and visual manner from every part of places. Gentle curving of the roofs makes an order of scenery, separating garden, lounge, lunchroom, nursing room and office, while the spaces are still reserved attaching as one. A place for everyone under one roof - kids playing around, the elderly takes a rest and mothers chitchatting with one another. The roof is like an impression of a big tree.

Precedent study looking on the construction of the roof. How the architect makes the building stands out from far is a very clever way to draw people’s attention into the building. Accommodating for the not only children but also for the local residents.

Figure 3.38 Roof designed in hopes that this small nursery creates a core space for the community, like a big tree Suzuki, K. (2016) Toranoko Nursery / Takashige Yamashita Office. https://www.archdaily.com/805198/toranoko-nursery-takashigeyamashita-office?ad_medium=gallery (Accessed: 9 May 2020)

Public Nursery in Glyfada // KLab architecture

Year of completion: 2017

The individual modules relate to use of the building complex as a kindergarten, and in form and scale take their inspiration from the typical houses all adults are familiar with from children’s drawings. A spatial unit consists of three individual modules. The assembled elements form a new typology – that of an “urban village” (KLab, 2017). All kindergarten rooms are grouped around a central courtyard, and small atriums serve as connective links between the units. Pergolas form constructed using timber material acted as transitional zones between indoors and outdoors and also making the building facades more interesting.

The use of colours in the building can be seen paintings on the wall and the selection of furniture giving a more vibrant mood to the spaces. While the play area was designed as part of the landscape for instance, the architect making use of the natural slope as playground slides (Refer to Figure 3.41). From this project, I am able to study on how the architect design for the kids in terms of spaces and furniture used.

Figure 3.39 Light and shadow through skylight

Figure 3.40 Toilet designed for children

Figure 3.41 Landscape as part of the playground Bisti, M. (2017) Public Nursery in Glyfada / KLab architecture. https://www.archdaily.com/881261/public-nursery-in-glyfada-klabarchitecture?ad_medium=gallery (Accessed: 9 May 2020)