Nest Nursery

Kanagawa, Japan, 2010

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Concept
An infant nursery school for children 0 to 2 years old, renovated with Japanese plaster “Shikkui” for the health of the children

This nursery school uses traditional Japanese plaster which has an excellent humidity control effect and is attracting attention as an anti sick building syndrome material to create a comfortable environment and improve children’s health. The floor and movable furniture are made of natural wood (Sawara cypress). As there is no garden, the nursery has a symbolic tree made of S-shaped logs that the children can hug, a wooden slide, and other play devices so that they can play indoors.

The nursery is designed to be safe and easy to use, taking into account the children’s behavioural and living patterns. The pillars and beams with many corners have curved surfaces, to create a warm, gentle atmosphere. The curved ceiling surfaces and plaster walls have been simplified and enhanced with indirect lighting in the ceiling to add a balanced effect. The wooden floor and the furniture harmonise to create a soft children’s house that wraps around the children warmly.

In 2011, the nursery design received the Design Encouragement Award from the Children’s Environment Society, and in 2013, it received the Work Prize from the Japan Shikkui Association.

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© Ph. takeshi noguchi / Drawings, Tono Mirai architects

Craftsmanship / Health-consciousness / Natural materials / Renovation / Sakan (plasterer) / Shikkui (Japanese plaster) / Sustainability / Traditional wooden construction

Category — Nursery School
Construction Period — October 2009 – March 2010
Total Floor Area — 164.70 ㎡
Floor number — 1st floor above ground, renovation
Structure — Wooden conventional method

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