minusplus: nursery for a sustainable society

social and educational considerations

the design of the new nursery in törökbálint understands sustainability at a wider sense than mere energy efficiency and low emission. social practice should overtake technological notions. a double system of objectives was the starting point of the design: to serve both children as users and the community as creator and operator. the education of the children is promoted with the richness of spaces, experience of materials, closeness to nature – a pedagogy hidden in architecture. the aspects of the community are served by efficient arrangement and sustainable operation.

the characteristic egg-shaped volume blends into the natural slope, embracing and protecting an intimate, rich inner garden. building and courtyard dissolve into each other, the transitions between the exterior and interior give intense and emotional perceptions. the natural surroundings of the terrain is extended to the roof, maximizing the space used by children.

the concentric organization expresses the experience of belonging to a group. the micro-spaces of the rooms open into each other and to the jointly used terraces, forming cellular units, while the court and the roof create community spaces for all children. like the interior, the courtyard is a series of micro and macro spaces. utilizing the aptitudes of the terrain creates a stimulating natural environment. soft, organic shaping characterizes the interiors, the cell-like spaces are lined with curtains and furniture. the rooms are surrounded by the rationally organized texture of the dressing and bathrooms. the service areas are located on the lower level.

positioning the house partly underground complemented with extreme insulation and triple glazing protects from heat and noise. heating and hot water needs are covered by the hybrid system of gas absorption heat pumps and solar panels. cooling is solved by humidification of the vegetation with collected rainwater.

project info: architecture: minusplus – zsolt alexa, donát rabb, ákos schreck, ivett tarr, tímea molnár location: törökbálint, hungary area: 1265m2 year: 2010-2011 structure: bartal és rabb services: energia partner plus landscape: s73 details: péter handa acoustics: róbert csott fire: bnn real kitchen: teco-gastro traffic: greenyard

embracing and protecting the intimate inner world