KINDERG4RTEN KRIŽEVCI

Project

268080

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Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS RISING STARS : concepts or ideas submitted by young talents (aged 30 or less)

Project title

KINDERG4RTEN KRIŽEVCI

Full concept/idea title

Description

Design represents the functional regeneration of the Kindergarten yard in Križevci. It will be a multifunctional zero waste garden where children can spend time playing and learning. The space will, besides a polygon/sport area, contain objects based on the 4R principle, such as raised garden beds made of reclaimed wood, tactile panels and a dome made of natural materials, sensory path, enclosed ‘quiet’ playspace with willow fence, wooden theme ‘houses’ with educational contents, etc.

Where is your concept/idea being developed or intended to be implemented in the EU?

Please provide a summary of your concept/ idea

Design represents the aesthetic and functional renovation of the Kindergarten yard in City of Križevci. The yard is designed as a multifunctional zero waste green space where children will spend time playing and learning with their peers and kindergarten staff. Design is done with existing trees in mind, but also adding many new trees, different plants and shrubs which will play a very important role in combating the summer heat and rain flooding which has been an issue so far and made the yard unusable for children. All plants used will be safe for children and/or edible. Intertwined with the green space, objects and contents inside of it will be based on the 4R principle (reduce,reuse,recycle,restore= and provide a sensory and educational benefits for children, creating a connection with nature and providing a child accessible green haven in urban setting. Theme houses (art, music, science, toy storage) will have a green roof to make them cooler in the warmer weather and will contain educational contents, supplies and toys keeping in mind natural materials and 4R principles. A veggie garden with raised beds will create an opportunity to create awareness of ‘where food comes from’ and establish healthy relationship with food. The bicycle polygon and sports area will create a safe place to learn traffic culture, but also be a place to play different sports and create healthy habits from young age. Idea is for the whole community to be part of the planting activities and creation of the additional contents for the yard- children and their parents/guardians, civil society organizations, trade students and other citizens will be able to participate in order to connect with each other and learn valuable lessons through co-working and creative use od resources. The yard area that is covered by the design is 4,083 m2. About 20 trees, 10 (mostly berry) bushes, 30 vegetable seedlings and over 300 pieces of other plants will be planted in the yard.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of sustainability and how these would be met

Sustainability is accomplished by making all the process in the design according to 4R principles. Reusing the materials already available, using recycled materials, reducing the waste at the site and using restored objects (e.g. restored bench or microscope in science house) is the main objective. Other way of assuring sustainability is restoring the biodiversity of the site by planting native plants, flowers and herbs and creating space for insects to thrive and live (e.g. insect hotels for bees and butterflies, shallow water bowls with glass balls). As some existing trees have been damaged from high water content, by planting trees that have water retention qualities and creating green roofs on theme houses it will make the space more climate resilient and provide a cooling effect during summer heat.  Vegetable garden will be taken care of by the children and kindergarten staff and the food grown in it will be used to make meals, as from other plants in the yard. Compost will contain scraps from the kindergarten and will be used for garden soil which will show the children the circular process of food growing. Throughout the yard, children will be exploring the impacts of the seasons, learning about natural processes and developing biophilia. This yard will also offer a way for children to explore principles of biomimicry which has been a great way to create sustainable inventions and practices.  By including the community into this design, first hand knowledge of sustainable practices is shared easily and quickly, showing that sustainability isn't unattainable in private and public spaces but also in the way we live on daily basis. That will make a big impact on the community and surely provoke a thought process on how 'things are usually done'. 

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these would be met

Design will incorporate a tree line which will shield the yard from the view of residential buildings, creating a green haven in the urban area. As this space is currently muddy and unkept, through this design the space will offer many new experiences. Throughout different thematic areas, children will be able to pick and choose which 'themes' are of their interest, but also offer an opportunity for kindergarten staff to hold thematic activities outdoor for children and parents (e.g. learning traffic rules, having a science or art day, having a children held music festival for parents, planting herbs and vegetables, outdoor classes, etc) in a safe, calming but vivid space. Besides activities, children will also be able to choose if they want to participate in group activities or have some alone time in the relaxing, willow fence enclosed area with Smurf village made out of pebbles, birdhouse, shade loving plants and a sitting area where they can bring their snack or toys and enjoy some peace. This is very important because of the sensory overload some children experience. Children can also view different insects that will be attracted to the plants next to the sensory path, veggie garden or by the water bowl and insect hotel. Sound of insects and birds is very calming, as is the sound of leaves and grass provided by trees and other plants. The whole yard will offer a space for everyone- regardless of number of children, their interests or stage of their sensory and body development.   

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of inclusion and how these would be been met

As it was stated earlier, this design resides on the idea of the community co-creating the space, offering their skills but also learning new ones. Different volunteers will have their roles in making this design come to life. For example, construction students will build the dome, carpentering students will build the tactile panels, music school will help with creation of natural instruments, ecological NGO will help with planting, etc.  The yard will be especially tailored to children of different development stages and learning capabilities. Sensory development is crucial in early age and being in nature has shown to have a positive effect on the mental health. During this Covid19 pandemic we have learned that we need more functional outdoor spaces, especially for children. The idea behind tactile sensory panels, sensory path, different herbs and flowers and other sensory development objects/parts are here to mitigate the development stagnation in early child development phase, therefore lowering the need to trying to 'catch up' during the later development phases. Design also envisions a solitary space for children that want to spend some alone time, take a break or play with their friends in a smaller group. This is useful for children that are more sensitive to noise, introverted or when they get emotional for some reason. 

Please explain the innovative character of your concept/ idea

Design is multileveled, based on 4R principle and will transform (now) unusable space to a climate change mitigation point in urban setting while also ensuring an educational and early developmental opportunity for young children. Besides that, all the plants will be completely safe for children and most of them will be edible. The design concept has taken in account the need for use of natural materials, community based cooperation and different thematic points of learning and playing (traffic safety, food growing and composting, creative expression, sportsmanship, science and biophilia). What makes the realization of this design unique is inclusion of the whole community, co-operating in creating a sustainable, green, educational space that offers an opportunity for children in the city to learn from nature on daily basis, spend time outdoors in a meaningful and fulfilling way taking into account their developmental needs.

Please detail the plans you have for the further development, promotion and/or implementation of your concept/idea, with a particular attention to the initiatives to be taken before May 2022

City of Križevci has leveled the upper part of the yard that sunk because of water erosion, filled the old unused pool with sand for the new sandbox and planted grass this Spring as a first step towards phase one of the design.  Phase one (late summer/autumn 2021)- clearing debris from the yard; planting trees and bushes around the perimeter; putting up willow fencing; organizing workshops for the community during which all the additional content will be made from natural materials; outlining points of interest where each element of design is going to be; preparing the raised beds for the garden and creating a compost and rainwater tank area; creating the outdoor classroom from wood stumps; building a dome and outlining the sensory path for herb and flower planting in the next phase. Phase two (early spring of 2022)- setting up the polygon; putting up the sensory wall with tactile panels; putting up the theme houses; putting up the ball guarding wall and planting the strawberries on the side facing the garden; putting up the playhouse, swing set and a rocking horse; planting a green roof on all theme houses; restoring the uphill recycled rubber steps; planting the herbs and flowers next to the sensory path; children planting the veggie garden.  Promotion will be done mostly by local media sources and on social media.;

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed concept/idea has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars Awards more than once in the same category.