DR - Profile Project: Young x Old (Summer Semester 2015)

The wonderful word “KINDERGARTEN” has been adopted into many languages because it is not merely a term but a program in itself, and because it explains that program through a spatial concept. Architecture plays more than just a supporting role in education: as the saying goes, “space is the third teacher.” The kindergarten design project is therefore a good opportunity, within the Design Research specialization, to practice translating a pedagogical concept into a spatial framework and architectural form, taking into account the aspects of its use.

Kindergartens are n o t child’s play. They possess considerable functional complexity and are subject to a high density of regulations. During the boom in kindergarten construction in recent years, following the 2008 Child Promotion Act, numerous high-quality kindergarten buildings have been constructed. However, time and financial constraints took precedence over pedagogical considerations: “more—faster—cheaper” was the motto, and so most daycare centers were built according to the specifications of standard room layouts. The DR Profile Project will therefore focus on pedagogical intentions and the question of which spatial strategies enable the optimal translation of these ideas.

Furthermore, no thought was given to what will become of all these daycare centers if the aging of the population progresses as dramatically as predicted. In the spirit of sustainability, another task is thus added to the topic of kindergartens: examining a potential future use—for example, by leveraging programmatic similarities—as a home for the elderly, an “ALTENGARTEN.”

As part of the DR profile project, totaling 30 credits —Research Studio in the Winter Semester 14/15 and Profile Project with an Advanced Seminar in the Summer Semester 15—we will examine the architectural tasks of the KINDERGARTEN and ALTENGARTEN at various levels:

For DR Master’s students in the specialization track, participation in the associated RESEARCH STUDIO in the winter semester 14/15 is a prerequisite for participation in the project. For other Master’s students, participation in the project-accompanying ADVANCED SEMINAR is a requirement for participation in the project.

Marc Matzken (M.A.)
Christopher Unger (Dipl.-Ing.)