Color

The first thing that you want to do when designing an in-home day care space is to make it colorful and appealing to the children who will be in it.  You can choose from a primary color palette that makes ample use of red, blue and yellow or go with a softer, more neutral color palette that focuses on white, brown and blue.  No matter what color scheme you feel most comfortable with, make sure that the accent pieces that you plan to use, like the beautiful dragonfly metal art that is perfect for the science nook, match the chosen colors.

Storage

Creating enough safe storage areas in an in-home day care setting is important.  Not only do you have to take into consideration the size of the storage containers, but you also need to make sure that they do not topple over or present a hazard to the children.  Rolling carts that can store a variety of different supplies and toys are especially good, because they are so versatile in their placement.  Open storage shelves are also popular, because their open design allows children to easily access and replace toys that have been played with.  In addition to the safety concerns, it is also a good idea to make sure that whatever storage containers you use are washable and easy to disinfect.

Furniture

Kid-size furniture is important to have in your in-home day care space.  Child size chairs and tables can make all the difference in children staying on task and being safe.  When they feel like they are being given the things they need to grow and learn, children become a lot more receptive to being in school.  In addition to kid-size tables and chairs, toy furniture is also important.  Just like the storage containers, make sure that any plastic houses, slides or kitchen units are easy to clean.  If the furniture is porous or difficult to launder, you may need to search for alternate ideas.

Your in-home day care room does not have to be the fanciest room in the house, but it does have to be bright, cheerful, safe and appealing to children.  While you might think that having car metal wall art on the walls will instantly make the space kid-friendly, a better alternative might be hanging up the children’s work instead to recognize their unique talents and personalities.

China Dalian

Architects: Debbas Architecture
Location: Dalian, China
Client: YIDA Group
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Debbas Architecture

Dalian Preschool

Ok, I admit it, this is definitely interesting, but I don’t know… a kindergarten? Does this shape get to you to think about a preschool? Although this unique project benefits from the collaborative expertise and design criteria from two early childcare professionals: the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI) based in the United States and Kinderland based in Singapore, the final result is somewhat disputable. “Combining the highest standards in the world with the complex local requirements of China, the program and resulting architecture offers children one of the most unique and comprehensive environments for learning and subsequently flourishing as individuals.”

Dalian Preschool street

“Conceptually, the design establishes a dynamic, fluid language that responds to both climatic conditions as well as progressive educational goals. The design endeavors to provide a unique, youthful and stimulating environment that marks a significant, independent shift from existing kindergarten models.” Well we analyzed in the past a different project at archtopia in the community centers, but that was a different story, and the design was much more appropriate for a program such as Preschool or Kindergarten. Of course I’m talking about the Kindergarten Sighartstein.

Dalian Preschool 3

How do you feel about this? Do you find this the best solution for a Kindergarten? What would you have made different?

[via AD]

Architects: Drost + van Veen architecten
Location: De Uithof, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Client: Skohold BV
Project Area: 520 sqm
Project year: 2003
Photographs: Drost + van Veen architecten

The new building is a playful design, joyful and with a lot of colour. It overlooks the grazing sheep in the meadow. Next to the building, to the left, there is a characteristic old farm, a monument, with a thatch roof, on the right, a wooden cowshed.

The new building is conceived as a contemporary type of farm, in form, material and construction (steel structure). The coloured facade and the aluminium roof contrast the rustic environment. The silhouette of the pointed roof refers to the existing farm building. Towards the back of the building, it transforms into a modernistic, functional building, with a flat roof, instead of a farm.

The new extension contains four children’s groups, age 0-4. The organization of the spaces is simple and logical, yet provide many surprising views from one room to the next that makes it a perfect environment for children and their mentors.

The building is symmetrical and is two stories high. The organization of the day-care is mirrored across the building’s central axis. There is a clear division in three zones. The front is reserved for the employees, the middle zone is used as playground and entrance, while the zone at the back contains the children’s groups. The big balcony at the back of this zone creates the outdoor space for the children on the first floor and also functions as a sun canopy against direct sunlight for the ground floor.

De kleine Kikker’s recognizable shape refers to that of its surrounding buildings, while it surprises through its distinguishing shape and its use of material and colour.

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via ArchDaily