Stoiser Wallmüller

Give me a U

The new kindergarten in Wolkersdorf offers protection, identity, and space for communal living in a suburban setting

Give me a U

Programme

Kindergarten

Size

1.230 m² GFA

Status

EU-wide, open, single-stage implementation competition 2024

Place

Badgasse, 2120 Wolkersdorf, Österreich

A single-story, U-shaped structure creates a green inner courtyard—the heart of the new kindergarten and its social meeting place.

Context, building structure

The construction site for the new kindergarten on the northwestern edge of Wolkersdorf is characterized by a high proportion of green space, low local identity, and high wind and noise pollution—the latter caused by the nearby Nordautobahn highway.

The proposed design aims to give the location an identity through a striking building structure, to offer protected outdoor spaces, and to create intensive relationships with the surrounding green and open spaces.

A single-story, U-shaped building structure creates a green inner courtyard – the heart of the new kindergarten and its social meeting place. The courtyard is a protected, child-friendly, controllable outdoor area to which all groups and important communal areas are directly and equally connected. The kindergarten garden can be accessed directly via an open classroom zone that spatially encloses the courtyard to the southwest. The extension groups can be connected to the two open ends of the U-shaped structure.

Axonometry: Overall (top), roof (middle), spatial organization (bottom)

Architecture, open space, construction

All rooms in the new kindergarten are organized under one roof, which protrudes on all sides and provides protection from the sun and weather in the immediate vicinity of the building. Generous glass facades blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor areas and create intense visual connections between the interior and the surroundings. Skylights bring additional light into deep areas of the building. Benches running along the facades and slightly raised, covered outdoor terraces invite people to linger and socialize. The green inner courtyard, open-air classrooms with pergolas, and a garden with play areas, informal open spaces, and green retreat areas complement the open space offerings.

The building is constructed of wood, which guarantees sustainable construction, a short construction phase, and a high quality of stay. All visible surfaces in the interior and exterior (floors, walls, ceilings) are also made of wood or wood-based materials.

Common center

Functional organization

The group rooms are organized in the wings of the U-shaped building, while the common rooms and staff rooms are located in the street wing connecting the two wings. Important common areas such as the dining area and exercise rooms are connected to the inner courtyard and can also be used.

The paths in the building are clearly organized and offer views of the inner courtyard or the surrounding landscape from every point. In addition to the internal access, external access is also always possible via the outdoor terraces. This avoids dead ends and creates circular paths.

The group rooms face the inner courtyard, while slightly elevated retreat areas are located at the rear and are spatially accentuated by skylights above. Floor plan flexibility is a top priority: group rooms can be connected via folding walls, and the dining area, multifunctional room, and exercise rooms can be combined to form a large lounge and event area for special occasions.

Left: Everyday use group, right: Lunch in the courtyard

Left: open house with garden, right: scaled-down use

Left: Summer party, right: Christmas party

The group rooms face the inner courtyard, while slightly elevated retreat areas are located at the rear and are spatially accentuated by skylights above. Group rooms can be connected via folding walls.

Site plan