‘kindergarten guntramsdorf’ by goya located in guntramsdorf. austria all images © kurt hoerbst

austrian firm goya (group of young architects) has completed ‘kindergarten guntramsdorf’ located in guntramsdorf, austria. nestled within a grove of chestnut trees, this school provides the young students with a continuous visual and physical connection to nature with a playground integrated into the woods. the classroom volumes are segmented into a series of smaller units and arranged around the central foyer to maintain a human scale, complimenting the size of the children.

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf entry walk

each room contains a perimeter wall consisting solely of floor to ceiling glass while others have narrow ribbons of windows at children’s eye level providing glimpses of mature trees or vegetation. the facade’s larch wood cladding wraps the exterior and transitions inward to surface the interior. load bearing cross elements are spruce plywood coated with white varnish. a moveable partition between the lobby and exercise space can remain divided on a daily basis but opened to create a multifunctional area for larger gatherings.

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf secondary entrance

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf playground

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf children playing on grounds

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf outdoor seating

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf larchwood facade changes to a figure ground which responds to the environment

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf (left) black and white facade continues into pavement surface (right) wood planks and windows frame existing tree trunk

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf school recedes into the chestnut grove

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf building conforms to mature chestnut trees

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorfexterior facade material becomes interior wall surface application

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf lobby area for children’s personal items

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf wall opened to the adjacent exercise room to create a grand event space

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf (left) multipurpose room (right) lofted multipurpose space

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf site plan

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf floor plan / level 0

goya: kindergarten guntramsdorf section