kindergarten on marktstraße in dornbirn

between capuchin monastery and community center
the site for the new kindergarten follows a familiar urban design concept – church, community center, school/kindergarten in close spatial proximity. the open building structure between marktstraße and bundesstraße is supplemented by two new buildings. the community rooms are housed in a three-story building along marktstraße, while the kindergarten is a single-story building situated in the garden area. this garden is defined by prominent trees, the monastery wall, and neighboring buildings, but is also affected by street noise from the bundesstraße. the cloister walkway of the adjacent monastery becomes a quiet, contemplative place protected from noise through the building itself. the kindergarten patio seeks a similar sense of calm. the location of the kindergarten preserves all existing trees.

open and closed, inside and outside
the spatial concept of the kindergarten provides different possibilities for use. from a sequence of individual rooms to clusters of rooms and finally to a completely open, flowing spatial arrangement, the kindergarten is adaptable. the private areas of the groups transition into the semi-public play veranda, which is adjacent to the communal patio. each group is embedded in the park with direct access to the outdoors. the patio is an open outdoor space in summer and, if needed, rain-protected, offering a space where the street is irrelevant – a protected, inner outdoor space that is easily observable. during the cold season, this area functions as a winter garden and energy trap. the roof is enclosed; on sunny days the unheated space becomes warm, while on cold days it serves as an intermediate space, providing additional room.

new pedagogical concepts – new educational spaces
children of this age need to learn independence and responsibility. yet they should not only be under direct supervision but also learn to take steps on their own. the spatial concept enables these pedagogical approaches while allowing subtle control. the kindergarten is clear and legible, providing good orientation and oversight of all areas. for a flexible, ever-changing daily routine, a spatial arrangement is offered that maximizes adaptability: openness with opportunities for retreat, spanning spatial-social units; large movement spaces combined with intimate areas; and the need for varied and contrasting uses is addressed through adaptable spatial structures (hardware) and furnishings (software): free-flowing room groups that can be subdivided into smaller units, oscillating between outdoor and indoor spaces with movable façades and partitions, and flexible interiors with mobile furniture and sliding elements.

open community
the community center rooms are located directly on marktstraße, sharing a common forecourt with the community house. the entrance for both the kindergarten and the community rooms is on marktstraße. event spaces are located on the first floor, and offices on the second floor.