A kindergarten project in Ghana for the architectural competition "Timeabu Kindergarten". The location area is in the immediate vicinity of a school where there are not enough classes. Considering the location, climate specificity and the fact that currently the youngest children are staying and studying in the open air, efforts have been made to design it in such a way as to give them a sense of freedom, openness, and to emphasize the role of the surrounding nature, by strengthening the preschool's relationship with the external environment.
The project aims to expand the experience related to the learning process, so it was decided to create non-standard space that gives the possibility of an unconventional approach to education and creative thinking. The main idea was based on the principle of fractal structure. Individual elements and their connections are self-similar and in their entirety create a coherent whole. Creating space is based on observing various activities, behaviour and the children’s needs. "I’m learning", "I’m playing", "I’m meeting", "I’m hiding", "I’m resting" - these activities are the main aspect in designing. In connection with the analysis of primary learning processes, symbolic places were created corresponding to the activities, such as: Waterhole, Cave, Campfire, Sandpit, Gate, Grove. The classroom space isn’t defined by the furniture we place in it, but by its users. It is the child who decides how to use the space. Architecture is to stimulate their curiosity and creativity, leads to the discovery of a number of unexpected places. The boundaries between the interior and the exterior have also been blurred, giving a sense of openness and closeness to nature and the surrounding landscape. The result is "permeable" architecture that becomes "full" thanks to the people who use it.
The non-standard design is based on the richness of space and light, rather than on the diversity of materials. For the construction of the facility, it was decided to use mainly inexpensive and locally available material, which is earth. Combining traditional construction methods and modern technology, it creates solid structures and at the same time ensures a comfortable indoor climate and harmony with the surrounding area.
