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Nursery School, Los Angeles
Design Research Project, 1987-88
Nursery schools
are often based on schools for older children or even adults, an approach
that seems to us both inappropriate and insensitive. For this reason,
our proposal puts forward an alternative idea that tries to address
the behavioural needs of young children. The overall concept is predicated
on the idea of a mini-city within a perimeter perforated wall-an elemental
spatial concept that establishes an easily identifiable, safe 'territory'
for the children.
The buildings within are analogous but diversified:
an assembly of towers and a long building. Movement between the different
levels is facilitated by ramps, and the second level of the towers is
connected by bridges to the perimeter wall allowing the children to
view the 'outside world' from a privileged position.
The roofs of the three towers address the natural
elements: wind, sky and sun. The wind tower has a metal cube case containing
two vertically pivoted circular planes which intersect at 90 degrees
and rotate with the wind like a giant mobile. The metal roof of the
second cylinder opens like the wings of a bird to give views of the
sky and let the sun in. The third has a glass roof through which the
children can see a sundial showing the movement of the sun and the passage
of time.
Collaborator: Douglas Sung.
Model: Douglas Sung, John Cheng (John-Tong)
Photo: Tony Naglemann
Computer drawing: Marcella Aquilar
Below
: Cross section, longitudinal section, first floor plan
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