Nursery, Vienna

The compact two-storey building offers a distinctive identity in a heterogeneous urban environment and blends in harmoniously with its surroundings. The rectangular core is designed as a spatially open system. A 'filter layer' consisting of secondary rooms, outer stairs and a patio area with plants for shade from the sun and secure play areas mediates between the interior and exterior space. Exciting insights and views are created by open and closed facade elements.

In accordance with the specifications of the operator, a spacious, open space was designed on the first floor, which enables the free division into play areas and areas for creative arts. The flexible furniture was specially designed to complement the concept and provides the children with different options for combination. Thus rooms and areas are (re)created time and time again. The group rooms are also assigned play berths on this level. The secondary rooms are designed as annexes and thereby result in an exciting facade structure.

Due to the short construction period (six months), a rapidly producible design was chosen: a composite construction of in situ concrete and prefabricated wooden elements. The two-storey nursery, which consists of the central structure and the secondary rooms as annexes, is built on a reinforced concrete slab with a circumferential glazed wall.

The main structure has two different ceiling systems. The ceiling above the ground floor is a massive in situ concrete ceiling, the wooden beamed ceiling above the first floor rests on a joist support system. The additional rooms are made of laminated timber and are horizontally connected to the main body. They direct their vertical forces into the foundation slab. The bracing of the building is achieved via a central core and a wall on the inside stairs which are both of massive reinforced concrete.

The minimum required hygienic change of air is ensured by a ventilation system with heat recovery and summer bypass. The climate control of the entire building during the summer occurs through the ventilation system by cooling the incoming air.

The passive house construction ensures the residual heat supply during the operating time via the ventilation system. The ventilation system is based on heat recovery with a cross flow plate exchanger without moisture recovery and heating and cooling coils.