Children's Daycare Center on Schwetzinger Terrasse

Heidelberg, Germany

Children's Daycare Center on Schwetzinger Terrasse

Heidelberg, Germany

The Children’s Daycare Center situated in the public plaza of Schwetzinger Terrasse is one of the first buildings to be realized in Heidelberg’s new city district known as "Bahnstadt“. Schwetzinger Terrasse is located at the intersection of the city with the landscape, and is intended to function as an attractive urban space that can be used in a variety of ways. Daycare centers are places of social encounter and play an important role in society and public life. They therefore plays an important role within this urban context.

The daycare center’s unique shape gives it the sense of a solitary building that evokes the semblance of an island. Upon entering the center, one reaches a generous lobby that is bathed in daylight, with part of the space rising over two storeys, offering pleasant views of the outdoor space around. Up the stairs is a gallery with rooms for the various children’s groups. A reading room, science room, music room and workshop are all accommodated on the upper floor and oriented to the open, common areas. The play garden to the south of the building can be reached through a set of large, glazed doors.

The lobby and group rooms are all oriented to the South. The clear orientation of the open areas to the South and the use of skylights demonstrate how direct sunlight influences the ambiance of a room depending on the time of the year, day, and weather. The large outdoor area is designed in such a manner that it is perceived as a protective belt surrounding the building. A parapet walk surrounds the building leading downstairs into the garden. This path offers the children the opportunity to view the trees, meadows and hills from varying perspectives.

  • Location

    Heidelberg, Germany

  • Client

    EGH Entwicklungsgesellschaft Heidelberg GmbH & Co KG

  • Architect

    Behnisch Architekten

  • Address

  • Photography

    David Matthiessen (1, 3-6)
    Thomas Hoffmann-Kuhnt (2)

  • Design

    2010-2012

  • Completion

    2012

  • Gross

    1.130 qm / 12,163 sq.ft.

  • Volume

    3.835 cbm / 135,433 cu.ft.

  • Competition

    2009

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