Daycare center Jonah and the whale

General planning, kindergarten, sustainability

Daycare center Jonah and the whale

New construction of a daycare center for children with ASD

Berlin

2019 - 2024

LP 1 - 9

As the first autism-sensitive daycare center in Berlin, "Jona und der Wal" offers space for a total of 70 children in four groups. Each group has trained caregivers who take care of the integration and care of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Project development

Project idea

The daycare center was built on the site of the former Felsen church congregation, based on a feasibility study carried out by D:4 in 2018/2019.

As part of the study, the Apostel-Andreas-Kirche formerly located on the site was examined. The result of the study: due to the considerable backlog of renovation work, it was no longer possible to renovate the existing building.

It quickly became clear that the property would be available for a new use. The project was developed together with the church district of Reinickendorf and the parish, as well as in collaboration with the local youth welfare office and the building planning office.

The special design of the care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) resulted from an acute need for care places and suitable spaces known to the local youth welfare office.

Financing

This focus enabled us to acquire funding from the federal government for daycare expansion, Aktion Mensch and the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO) as part of the structural adjustment fund. Support was also provided by the state of Berlin as part of the "Grün macht Schule - KinderGARTEN" program. The Protestant Andreas-Kirchengemeinde and the church district of Reinickendorf also made a significant financial contribution.

Implementation

Both the architecture and the educational concept of the daycare center were designed to enable inclusion and individual development.

The daycare center extends over two floors and covers around 1,200 m². Four group areas were set up under the striking, multi-folded roof, which serves as the central design element. This roof not only provides an aesthetic eye-catcher, but also ensures optimal lighting and defines the sequence of rooms inside. On the first floor, there are rooms for under-threes and functional rooms, while on the upper floor there are three further group rooms for over-threes and a multifunctional room.

Extensive research into autism-sensitive construction was carried out as part of the design of the daycare center. Inspiration for the measures came primarily from ASPECTSS.

Group room with built-in furniture and hiding places © Werner Huthmacher.

Autism-sensitive building

Accessibility and zoning

The room concept focused on inclusion and accessibility. All rooms were designed to allow unrestricted access for children with different physical and mental abilities - accordingly, all rooms are barrier-free.

The floor plan follows the principle "from large to small", which facilitates easy orientation in the building. The central foyer serves as the largest room and provides access to the group rooms. Play corridors on both floors serve as "transition zones" between the individual functions in the building. This gives users the opportunity to "recalibrate" before moving from one function to the next.

Compartmentalization

In order to clearly separate the uses from one another, all usage units are visually and haptically separated from one another.

In the rooms with a play function, all walls are tactile and natural. The staircase can be felt through the concrete surface. The kitchen and bathrooms are tiled. Color-coded doors - green frames for play areas, grey frames for functional rooms - help children find their way around. In this way, the functions of the areas are also separated from one another in sensory terms.

The division is also based on the logical sequence of the daily routine.

Reduction of stimuli

Special attention was paid to minimizing acoustic and visual stimuli to create a calm and focused environment. Sound-absorbing wooden slats ensure pleasant acoustics in the interior, reducing echoes, reverberation and background noise, while a soothing blue and green color scheme avoids visual overstimulation.

In addition, several specially designed retreat areas and polygonally shaped built-in furniture offer the children space to withdraw if necessary.

In addition to the group rooms, which are intended for playing and socializing, each group also has a side room that is specifically designed for quiet activities. This is where children can relax and withdraw.

Outdoor facilities

A spacious garden shielded from the street complements the interior spaces and offers the children play areas for running around, climbing, digging and retreats. Around 4,000 bricks from the demolished Felsen church were reused for the design of the outdoor area. These bricks were reused as walls, path edgings and other elements in the garden design, which emphasizes the connection between the old and the new building in a sustainable way.

Security

The nursery was built in accordance with the latest safety standards. In addition, all built-in furniture is coated with a particularly compatible wax, which also allows risk-free biting and scratching.

Sustainability

Sustainable timber hybrid construction

The daycare center was built using a sustainable timber hybrid construction method, in which timber frame and solid wood elements were used. This construction method creates a pleasant indoor climate and is also particularly resource-friendly and deconstructable. The structural design of the folded roof was carried out by Lossen Ingenieure, while the carpentry work was carried out by Zimmerei Arche Naturhaus GmbH. A particular focus was placed on selecting materials that are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

"We are proud to be part of this timber hybrid construction project and would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication. Special thanks go to the architectural firm D:4 Architektur and Arche Naturhaus GmbH for their creative design and outstanding work. Together, we are shaping the future of our little ones and creating a place where they can develop and grow."