Designed by tagger3architektur, Kindergarten Spenglergasse is an innovative educational building in Vienna, Austria. The design emphasizes spatial flexibility, incorporating a modular layout that allows for dynamic interaction between various functions within the building. The architecture responds to the needs of early childhood education with open-plan classrooms and communal spaces adaptable to different group sizes and activities.
The project includes a two-group open-system kindergarten with all-day care. Surrounded by single-family houses on three sides, the single-storey building is designed to accommodate expansion at a later date. The planned expansion of the third group will transform the complex into a courtyard-like structure with a westward opening.
Varied offsets and recesses in the building offer a diverse articulation of volume, while assorted façade designs, including vertical wood slatting, create an interplay between openness and retreat.
Interior spaces offer high functional and spatial diversity. Interconnected rooms, attached niches, opportunities for multiple uses, gallery areas, multifunctional furniture installations, zoning, transparency, permeability and light from all directions provide the spatial counterpart to the concept of an ‘open kindergarten.’ Further, interior spaces feature a variety of nooks, alcoves, and furniture that are proportioned for children, enabling them to interact with their surroundings on their own terms.
The design incorporates biophilic design principles, creating a nurturing environment that supports cognitive development. The use of natural materials, daylight, and air quality management are central to the building’s environmental performance. The project also integrates energy-efficient systems, such as passive solar heating and green roofs.
