fani atmanti : nitiprayan kindergarten

Floorplan & Building Design Transformation

“how sad that by age three or four, children might already be labelled as having less chance for success than some of his classmates.” (Joseph J. Tobin, David Y.H Wu, Dana H Davidson. Preschool in Three Culture.1989.page : 25)

I don’t agree calistung (baca, tulis , berhitung : read, write, and count) system in Indonesia kindergarten. even in UU RI No.23 Tahun 2003 doesn’t mention about calistung for kindergarten education system in Indonesia. they believe that calistung sytem can form children into a perfect human in the future in education. well, by forcing children in their gold age (kindergarten age) actually can damage their mental growth. so that’s why I want to use Long Range Strategy System. this system do not force children to study hard but allow children to express their feeling and learn by playing. the goal of the system is not form a children to become clever instantly but form a strong and great personality for individual so that in the future they can be an outstanding people.

I use a new theory called Microscopic Design Methodology to design this kindergarten. this new methodology is explained on book titled “ Microscopic Designing Methodology: by Hiroshi Nakamura.

microscopic design is about dynamic relationship; where to what and how people are connected rather than adhering visible and static objects such as form and structure of architecture. it is also observes how behaviors and actions are engendered with great care. (Nakamura, Hiroshi. Microscopic Designing Methodology.2010.page : 10)

this design methodology basically pay attention to something micro such as human body (how’s their behaviour, movement, tactile,etc) , nature (connection between human and nature), material ( various materials and how to collaborate it), social and environment ( how people connects to their environment).

I start my design from the main part of the kindergarten (classroom), I try to study some shapes which are suitable for the classroom. the classroom can be rectangle, modified with triangle, hexagonal,etc. at the end I choose hexagonal because this basic shape has the many view orientations. this makes the classroom become more dynamic and children will enjoy doing their activities.

well actually circle has more view orientation than hexagonal but I don’t take circle for basic plan because when a space has unlimited view orientation, the activities can’t be controlled. kindergarten classroom need to have free space but then when it has too many view orientation, children’s activities are difficult to be controlled and the school activites will be mess.

I use Microscopic Design Methodology, it means that I observe little moments of children. I record some movements, moments, behaviour, and from all the datas, I make 4 icon designs on my kindergarten :

nature play and communication freedom new space

nature nature means the kindergarten allow children to feel the nature. I give a skylight on the library and a chute. the skylight allows children to see the blue sky and chute allows children to see and touch the rainfall in one section of the kindergarten.

play and communication the playground of a new kindergartens should be laid out as such, and develop from the outset as multi-purpose play spaces, so that the ground can be left to the children of the neighbourhood for playing in their free time. (Playground and Recreational Space Book)

kindergarten has inner court and communal park on the front. inner court is an open space inside and has an installed stage from wood construction. the stage will be functioned for art performance and also for playing area. communal Park is provide for kindergarten user and also people who live surrounding. it is a free space that allows communication between kindergarten’s user and non user.

freedom exercise of the body, of the voice, of the whole person in the production of the maximum possible commotion is an absolute necessity at sometime to other to every healthy child. noise is necessary, movement is necessary and to be healthy these must be allowed to be exactly what they are shapeless explosions of an over plus of energy. (Lowenfield.Pattern of Designing Children Centre.1935)

freedom allow children to observe other class activities and access each kindergarten part easily. iI give unlimited corridor for each classes. you can see from the pic below that corridor is placed surrounding the classes, library and other rooms. the classroom and library use clear sliding door. I try to use transparent partition for this kindergarten. well, there’s one opinion said that it’s better to border the classroom with massive partition because massive partition can create silent area so that children can study well and seriously but I don’t agree to this opinion. I make the classroom to be opened and transparent so that children can hear the voice from neighbour, can hear the children step, and enjoy the each space of the kindergarten.

new space new space is the library. usually inside the library there’re tables, chair and book shelves, but here there aren’t. library is a semi open and free space. in the middle is installed a furniture. The furniture shape almost looks like lantern. inside the furniture, children can take a rest, reading a book while laying, play a shadow game, and this furniture can become an art space + media.in dark place, the furniture can be collaborated with projector so that the furniture’s surface presents various images.

about the Location : the Kindergarten is located in Nitiprayan village. this is located near Bugisan Area, 3km from Jogjakarta Palace (Kraton Yogyakarta).nitiprayan is a village which is unique of the diversity. the people there are from various ethnics and they often hold a culture and tradition event. some of them are artists such as painter, musician, theatre play, sculptor, perfomer, etc. they are really open to new idea and innovation.

Kindergarten Siteplan