A new kindergarten in Fulnek, a small town in the Czech Republic, nestles in a gentle slope on the edge of an expansive garden. Designed by XTOPIX architekti in collaboration with Simona Ledvinková, the building enjoys both generous space and unobstructed views — its entire southern facade opens towards the landscape and frames distant vistas of a château, the town’s prominent landmark perched on the opposite hill.
Atmosphere and concept
The building is conceived as a “sanctuary for play in the midst of a fast-paced world”, a haven of carefree exploration before children begin their journey into school and the wider rhythms of daily life. Selected through an architectural competition, the design includes the new building as well as upgraded infrastructure connections and sensitive integration within Fulnek’s designated heritage conservation zone.
Integration with terrain and surroundings
Gently set into a slope and immersed in the natural scenery, the building settles into the site quietly and respectfully. It follows the terrain, keeping the garden in clear view. Its facade, clad in charred pine planks, blends into the wooded surroundings, appearing and receding behind mature trees. With its low profile, the building feels welcoming, scaled to the world of children and harmonious with its setting.
Atria and spatial organisation
The compact volume is shaped by two southern courtyards (atria) that form natural inlets into the building. These atria, defined by the existing slope, allow the garden to enter the interior and the interior to open outwards. This arrangement ensures that every classroom has direct access to the outdoors, even in the two-storey structure.
The elongated form is arranged into two main zones: children’s spaces and service areas. A corridor provides horizontal circulation, while a central staircase hall links the two levels vertically.
Four classrooms occupy the ground floor, paired around the shared outdoor atria, which also serve as semi-sheltered entrances. Children pass through glazed vestibules — visually connected to the classrooms — into their cloakrooms, creating a gradual transition from the public realm into their familiar environment.
The upper floor houses a large, light-filled multipurpose room for physical activity and community gatherings. Panoramic views of Fulnek’s historic centre and château extend from this space, further enriched by an adjacent terrace with an extensive green roof. This terrace strengthens both the spatial and visual relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Structure and materials
Due to challenging hydrogeological conditions, the building is supported on a reinforced concrete grid founded on large-diameter piles. At the junction between the basement and non-basement sections, watertight concrete with integrated waterproofing was used to withstand pressurised groundwater.
Above ground, the load-bearing walls are constructed from 300-millimetre-thick precision ceramic blocks, while the subgrade structure is formed in cast-in-place reinforced concrete. Internal load-bearing and partition walls use thermally efficient blockwork. The lift shaft is built from permanent formwork with reinforcement.
Monolithic reinforced concrete slabs are paired with exposed ribbed concrete ceilings fitted with acoustic wood-wool panels. The roof comprises a single-layer monolithic reinforced concrete structure with thermal insulation and an extensive green roof build-up.
The facade combines contact insulation with mineral wool and a ventilated timber cladding made from thermally treated pine. Large glazed openings are fitted with aluminium-framed windows with integrated external blinds, complemented by high-performance wooden windows.
Interior concept and modularity
Inside the classrooms, space functions like a building block. A modular system divides the open plan into distinct activity zones, driven by a recurring square motif that appears across multiple scales: ceiling joists, window frames, acoustic panels, modular furniture, movable storage boxes, and even LEGO bricks. Each classroom is associated with a specific colour to support intuitive wayfinding for the children. While cloakrooms, washrooms, and serving areas reflect these colours, the classrooms themselves remain calm and neutral, with white tones, birch plywood, and polished concrete.
Collaborative graphic identity
During construction, a collaborative graphic design workshop involving the children led to the creation of a custom “kindergarten font”, now used for signage and wayfinding throughout the building. The initiative aimed to involve the children in shaping their future environment, fostering a sense of belonging and participation. The workshop concluded a week-long educational project in collaboration with architects, graphic designer Jakub Wdowka (Artbureau), type designer Marian Misiak (Threedotstype), and street artist Len.
