Vierfach Kindergarten Rain

The new 4-storey Rain kindergarten in Ittigen consists of two 2-storey pavilions, each with two kindergarten units one above the other, which are grouped around a shared courtyard with terraces. The pavilions, the terraces and the courtyard are combined with an enclosing shell to form a building that can be experienced as a single unit. This creates outdoor areas that can be used and experienced in different ways. There are places for community, exchange or movement and others for retreat, privacy or tranquillity. The chosen composition principle of interior and exterior spaces, building volumes and open spaces creates a stimulating, integrating and versatile recreational, play and learning environment tailored to children.
The uniformly materialised and designed new 4-fold kindergarten, enclosed by a finely chiselled shell, has a natural, warm and inviting effect. The very memorable façades are multi-layered, finely structured both vertically and horizontally, pleasant to look at and raise expectations for more. The inner courtyard, which serves as an entrance and sheltered, intimate outdoor space, is unique thanks to its free form, its views in and out and its materialisation, and creates a strong sense of identity. The spatially diverse interior spaces are designed to be clear, restrained, warm, bright and friendly. The vertical wooden slats create spatial intimacy with optimal views and vistas. The child-friendly scale contributes to their well-being and identification with the building.

The sustainable building, constructed entirely of wood, is uniformly materialised in wood in all its parts. This contributes to the extremely characterful design appearance and creates a sense of calm and identification. The weather-exposed wooden parts of the outer skin, such as wall cladding and slats, are colourless pressure-impregnated and lightly oiled, while the horizontal outer wooden parts, such as the surrounding window sills and stairs, are made of pre-treated and lightly oiled oak. All other wooden parts such as inner and outer ceilings, inner and outer floors, inner supports, walls and doors are treated with a pigmented oil to match the external appearance and the windows are painted accordingly. This creates a consistently warm, friendly and natural room atmosphere.