カテゴリー: english_architecture

AKM Kindergarten and Nursery

A kindergarten surrounded by hills that harness the harshness of nature to develop children’s physical strength

This kindergarten is located in Ashikita Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. After the former school building was flooded during the Kumamoto heavy rains in 2020, a new plan was proposed on a 2m-high hill. This large hill not only protects the children from disasters but also serves as a playful playground. The playground, with captivating contours, continually draws out various physical movements and creativity from the children, thereby shaping an environment that nurtures both children’s bodies and minds.

A playground with rich elevations that develops children’s physical strength

A bright picture-book corner space surrounded by picture books

An open dining room connected to the outside

KN Kindergarten and Nursery

A kindergarten where children can experience original scenery

A newly built certified nursery school in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

In this region, which is full of rich nature such as mountains, fields, and rivers, large windows and verandah corridors capture the ordinary scenery that is often overlooked, allowing children to enjoy the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons and the passage of time from anywhere in the kindergarten, nurturing children’s love for their hometown and sensitivity.

Grand staircase hall that encourages a variety of play and movement

Veranda in front of the nursery room where the wind passes through

net play equipment that looks like an ant nest

SDJ Nursery

Connecting with Shimokitazawa area
As a stronghold of Cultural Creation

Nestled in Shimokita railway street in Tokyo, the nursery accommodates up to 105 children with a multi-purpose community center attached.
Due to the development of the Odakyu Line, street along the railway has become more attractive. The nursery has created a community zone which including a community center where the door can be fully opened and a children’s gallery. Serving as a hub for the nursery, people of all generations from the local community gather within the facility, strong connections were made between community and the nursery, and among the community members themselves through events like music concerts, theater performances, dances, and support for child-rearing.

A community space with picture books accessible to local residents.

Atelier located along the Road, creating connections with local residents.

An open community space can be used in a variety of ways.

ATG Kindergarten and Nursery

Unique Environment Inducing Spontaneous Play

A certified childcare center located in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading heavy snowfall areas.
To make the most of the unique external environment, slopes designed for seasonal activities like sledding and grass sliding, a spacious piroti suitable for diverse outdoor activities regardless of climate and wraparound balcony were installed.
The layout that encourage a variety of play and learning both indoors and outdoors, we foster children’s spontaneity through play.

Bright Open Spaces

Open atelier spanning indoors and outdoors

A massive slope for sledding even during heavy snow seasons

JPP Nursery

Through the “Mix” Community Space
Recognizing diverse relationships among people

Based on the concept of “nursery recognizing diversity,” this corporate-led nursery in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, integrates three uses: nursery, after-school day service, and sick child care. The nursery for children aged 0 to 18 offers various “intermingle” spaces within the facility, enabling children with and without disabilities to naturally interact through their daily lives.

Spaces such as the picture book corner and the earthen wall maze allow children with disabilities and those without to gather together in a community space.

A deck terrace inspired by town’s lighthouse, where children gather across age and disability boundaries.

Free-standing house-shaped furniture that allows children to choose how they play and where they belong.

SMS Nursery

A community child care support center
where people can easily drop by like a park

A company-led nursery that is the only one in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture that has a childcare facility for sick children.
Nursery open to the front road and has an atmosphere that anyone can easily visit, like a park in the community or a stylish cafe. By creating an environment where local child-rearing families can talk to others about concerns that they tend to face alone and feel free to seek advice, contributes to the creation of a local community that is conducive to easy child-rearing.

A childcare support space that is like a park and can be easily used by local people

An environment where it is easy to talk about worries with nursery teachers and nurses at any time

It is safe to leave children here by strong security

IRH child development support

A community child care support base
where people gather like in a cafe

The facility combines “child development support” and ” child care support “.
Many child development support facilities tend to be closed off due to privacy concerns.
However, by creating an open environment that allows visibility from the road to the courtyard, attracting community residents to gather here like a café-style child care support base.
In addition, to meet the needs of children who come here for assistance,comforting den corners have been set up throughout the facility, creating an environment conducive to children’s growth.

A child care support room easily accessible for nearby residents, much like entering a café.

A spacious play area enclosed by large windows.

A picture book corner reminiscent of playing hide and seek.

UB Kindergarten and Nursery

Children spontaneously create play experiences

A kindergarten that makes the most of the rich natural environment

A certified nursery school with a capacity of 117 children newly established in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Making the most of the vast site of over 10,000 square meters and the rich natural environment that spreads there, where children can live and grow freely.
various features such as undulating terrain and interactive elements are designed to resemble exploring an enchanting forest, allowing children to spontaneously create play.

An open dining room connected to the forest

Picture book corner where you can find your own place and read books calmly

exterior that shines in the forest

SLF Primary and Secondary School

Becomes one with nature along the sloped ground

A new construction project for a public primary and junior high school in Shenzhen, China. Designed like a staircase along the slope of the mountain, By setting up a lush terrace in front of each classroom, sunlight can enter any floor. In addition, various learning spaces encourage children to learn independently while attracting their interest.

A lush classroom terrace where you can interact with the upper floors

Open dining with a view of the natural scenery outside

Wide corridor that can be used for various purposes

RK Primary School

Sustainable School Facility

Adjusting to Various Education Styles

This is a primary school project renovated from a building which used to be a bank and a dormitory. Taken the idea of SDGs adopted by the United Nations, ‘Educational facility which local people are easy to use’, ‘Bright and clean toilet’, ‘Utilize the natural energy’, ‘Use the existing building and local materials’, and ‘Reduce heat loss’ are realized. Also, there are many spaces for teachers, students, parents and local people to interact each other so that students can grow up with many inspirations.

open classroom where class members can see each other

Gymnasium with benches and bookshelves

A library that makes use of the existing building that conveys the history of the building

An open staff room where the distance between teachers and students is close

RJ Nursery

By Connecting a Nursery with Temple,

Building Facilitates Communication

This nursery is in the precincts of the temple. To facilitate communication between children and neighbors, the site plan was designed. By planning the playground contiguous to the approach to the temple for long distances, they greet with neighbors in daily life.

book corner

dining room

playground

MS Kindergarten and Nursery

By Bring the Elements of Japanese Traditional Houses,

Coexist with Nature

Recently most of nursery rooms are closed from outside and many artificial materials are used. By bringing elements of Japanese traditional houses, children can feel wind and sunlight, and then they can spend time more comfortably.

entrance

book corner

exterior

OM Nursery

Library space with steps to read and play

Entrance where neighbors can see how children play and communicate with them

Appearance

AKN Nursery

Entrance where neighbors can see how children play and communicate with them

Playing hall for teachers’s training for children’s playing

Appearance

SH Kindergarten and Nursery

Library space like a pond in a moutain

Library space like a cave in a moutain

Dining room connecting outside and kitchen

FS Kindergarten and Nursery

Dining room connecting the full-open kitchen

Atelier space connecting outside

Appearance

IZY Kindergarten and Nursery

Wide veranda connecting to the precincts of the temple

Wooden den space matching to the temple landscape

Dining space connecting outside

Kids Ami

stairs

people can see how children play inside

appearance

KFB Kindergarten and Nursery

fully open-able hall

adventurous picture book section

dining room connected to terrace and kitchen

MRN Kindergarten

Dinning is full of wind and sunshine

playing change by season in playing zone

exterior and the existing tree in garden

EZ Kindergarten and Nursery

Exterior inspired by the characteristics of hometown

dinning is connected with kitchen

physical training by playing in indoor space

KO Kindergarten

Children can move around in the lobby

Den in entrance is connected to the 2nd floor

Even toilet can be playing zone

IO Nursery

co-working space

net playing facility connect 2nd floor and the roof

comfortable room makes sick children feel relieved

 MURONOKIDS SATELLITE

entrance

childcare-room

childcare-room