The brief: Create a kindergarten building on a lot in Solna, a suburb in western Stockholm. Due to increased housing demand in Stockholm, kindergartens are often constructed in densely populated areas. As a result, many preschools have small yards and few areas door free play. The building is designed for between 40-50 children and 10 employees.

The solution: A building where open, airy rooms surround an outdoor piazza. The kindergarten can be thought of as a village surrounding a central square where children are encouraged to explore, move about and enjoy light and open spaces. The building is partially submerged into the ground. The roof serves as a garden, playground and the place where much of the day is spent. By using the roof more space is freed for play.

The shapes are designed to be simple by dynamic and facilitate the creation of interesting room shapes that encourege the children to play and interact. A square (the inner courtyard) that gradually transforms into a rectangle ( the outer shape of the building) creates a grid that forms the basis for placement of the walls.