Forfatterhuset Kindergarten

In the center of the buzzing Nørrebro district in Copenhagen lies a calm and quiet elderly community, and a hidden oasis of red brick buildings and lush greenery. With the kindergarten located in these surroundings, the main idea behind the project is to inject young life into and coexist in harmony with the elderly community in a generous way that gives back more than it takes away. The building is designed as a kids' village scattered like potted plants on a terrace. The green plot is divided into smaller and more intimate zones of gardens, lively play zones, roof terraces, and quit niches. Forfatterhuset is simultaneously a playground and a building, a park and an institution. This is a kids’ world to discover and explore.

To retain the natural feeling of a green footprint on the existing building site, the kindergarten is designed as a three-dimensional village where garden and building become one.

De Gamles By is also known as The Red City, referring to the red bricks that are used throughout the whole development. The facade of the kindergarten respects the historical surroundings by translating the traditional horizontal red bricks of the area, into slender vertical red brick slats.

The facade continues from unit to unit within the institution, surrounding the garden and playground with one simple and unifying band. The form of the unifying bands of red brick slats define and divide the institution intuitively into safe zones for different age groups without the use of traditional fencing. The brick slats are thus used as a facade material, protection against overheating, railings for the roof terraces, and the fence around the playground.

The building is vertically organized around a common space - the heart of the kindergarten - that creates a visual and physical connection throughout the institution, making it easy to move between the different group rooms, playrooms, and outdoor spaces.