Children in their own universe

In Varnsdorf, the construction of a kindergarten began with an innovative elliptical floor plan. Upon completion, an open atrium was incorporated within the circular structure, seamlessly integrating the garden into the interior and enhancing the nursery's serene atmosphere.
 
The facility comprises two departments, each accommodating 25 children, with dedicated operational and sanitary facilities, a catering area, and a centrally located multifunctional hall. Classrooms and playrooms are symmetrically arranged in the side wings as open spaces, featuring built-in furnishings like toy shelves, cupboards, and mobile containers. Frameless square windows at children's eye level promote a sense of openness and connection with the outdoors.

"We designed the interiors as a neutral environment. We combined light grey natural linoleum floors, birch plywood, white wall paintings and acoustic perforated ceilings with circular light fittings. As a result, the colourful accents of the play elements, furnishings and garden stand out," says architect Radomír Grafek. The single-storey building features a flat, elliptical green roof with a low attic.
 
Brickwork walls and piers are reinforced with steel columns around the atrium and partially at the roof’s perimeter. The architects used Porotherm 38 TB Profi Dryfix cut bricks with mineral insulation for the perimeter walls and Porotherm T Profi with 30 cm thick mineral insulation for the foundation. "The outer face of the brickwork opened up when laid in an arch, but we resolved it by filling the vertical joints before adding the lining," explains architect Grafek.