Daycare center Jona and the whale

Berlin-Reinickendorf

Project overview

The daycare center was planned and realized by D:4 Architektur and was built on the site of the former Felsen Church, based on a feasibility study carried out by D:4 in 2018/2019. It offers space for 70 children and places a special focus on the care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both the architecture and the educational concept of the daycare center were designed to enable inclusion and individual development.

Architectural concept

The daycare center extends over two floors and covers around 1,200 m². Four group rooms were created under the striking, multi-folded roof, which serves as a central design element. This roof not only provides an aesthetic eye-catcher, but also ensures optimal lighting and interesting room sequences 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.

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.

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.

Inclusion and accessibility

The room concept focused on inclusion and accessibility. All rooms were designed to allow unrestricted access for children with different physical and mental abilities. 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. Color-coded doors - green frames for playrooms, grey frames for functional rooms - help the children find their way around.

Reduction of stimuli

Particular attention was paid to minimizing acoustic and visual stimuli in order to create a calm and concentrated learning environment. Sound-absorbing wooden slats ensure pleasant acoustics in the interior spaces, while a calming color scheme in shades of blue and green avoids visual overstimulation. In addition, specially designed retreat areas and polygonally shaped built-in furniture offer the children space to withdraw if necessary.

Financing

The project was financed by funding from the federal government for daycare expansion, Aktion Mensch and the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia (EKBO) as part of the Structural Adjustment Fund. There is also a grant from 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 large contribution.

Opening

The opening ceremony took place on October 11, 2024 at 3:30 pm at Schlitzer Straße 46, Berlin-Reinickendorf. Representatives of the parish, the church district, the borough and the planning offices involved were present to inaugurate the daycare center.