Robert Schmitz-Michels Kindertagesstätte

`Ritterburg´
New development of a children's daycare centre, Berlin-Kreuzberg
Client: NITEC GmbH

In May 2009 a newly built daycare centre opened in Ritterstraße. The daycare centre occupies the ground floor and accommodates around 80 children, while the first floor is used as a community centre. The building is divided into four parts. Facing the street are the facilities including bathrooms, building services, kitchens and coatrooms. The rooms for learning and playing are adjacent to the garden. The inner arrangement of the building is also visible from the outside. The fassade is divided into forms that connect the two floors. Through the fassade there is a strong visual connection between the indoor and outdoor play areas. The building plan shows large play rooms which contain mobile room dividers, allowing the rooms to be reorganised for different activities. The educational concept for the play rooms is to offer flexibility in the way they are used, allowing children between ages 2 and 5 to mix for a variety of activities. This creates an environment for children where different age groups can mix and many activities are possible. .