Alnatura KinderNaturGarten
Darmstadt / Germany

2015 – 2018

The KinderNaturGarten is located in the north of the Alnatura Campus in Darmstadt. The circular-formed building opens in all directions to embrace the immediate surroundings. The overhanging roof form provides weather protection and shading. The central courtyard provides a communal amenity and is flanked by a generous corridor which serves as the communicative heart of the kindergarten, connecting the group activity rooms, multi-purpose room and office / administration.

The arrangement of these rooms follows the logic of the course of the sun with the group rooms and the multi-purpose room located in the southern half of the building, and the administrative area, the entrance and technical support room - in the northern half. All principle rooms of the KinderNaturGarten are naturally ventilated all year round. A geothermal heat pump extracts geothermal energy and provides adequate temperature conditioning of the room via floor-integrated pipework.

The KinderNaturGarten is a public kindergarten with an anthropological educational concept. The new building accommodates up to 88 children in 5 groups. The consistent pursuit of inclusion through accessibility and single-entry is an integral part of the pedagogical concept.

Materials

healthy, natural and renewable building resources

The use of renewable construction materials, such as timber and earth-base plasters, together with recycled materials lead in the overall energy balance towards a climate-neutral building.