Njiric + Arhitekti d.o.o.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

MEDO BRUNDO KINDERGARTEN

Njiric+ Arhitekti Doo

AREA
2300 m²

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Zagreb, Croatia

CATEGORY
Kindergarten

Text description provided by architect.

How to design a kindergarten on a too small plot ? What if the plot is overshadowed by a massive nine-story block on it's south side ? What if the plot is surrounded by the heavy traffic?

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

The kindergarten is initially conceived as a single-story mat building – compact, introverted, autocatalytic, with clearly defined borders.

Due to the context, the mat is pushed away from the shadow and folded up towards the sun.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

Local suburban matrix is echoed in the repetitive small-scale structure of units and patios.

This chequered board of solids and voids is bent into vertical plane – gardens become terraces, corridor transforms into staircase.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

The outline of the building is continuous and closed, except on the west side which is "stripped" and treated like a glazed section to interact socially with a frequent neighbourhood path.

An hommage to the american artist Dan Graham ("An Alteration of the Suburban House", 1978).

Such a layout offers a variety of open-air spaces – patios, covered (winter) terraces and a roof-top garden.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

There is a big playground in the non-buildable area at the back side of the house.

Interior is organized as a sequence of spaces linked with "The Children Street". .

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

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.

The children and staff premises are completely intertwined. This typological innovation mirrors a series of didactic relations.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo

A child can see a woman 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 ones control the heating or repair the furniture.

Walking down "The Children Street" and seeing all the professions lined up left and right – like an everyday situation in the city. An introduction to the real life.

Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
© njiric+ arhitekti doo


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten


Medo Brundo Kindergarten
Medo Brundo Kindergarten

Njiric + Arhitekti d.o.o.
T +385 1 2335551
Njiric + Arhitekti d.o.o.
Petrova ul. 140, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia