The new day-care centre in Vaaralanpuisto is the first construction project to put the city of Vantaa’s near-zero energy concept to the test. The facilities are designed to suit the new teaching style where children attend class in small groups. The materials are unpretentious and known for aging gracefully.
The Vaaralanpuisto day-care centre is located in the Vaarala district of Vantaa. The building has nine home-like day-care areas – a new concept – with space for 126 children in total.
Located in a quiet residential area, the plot mainly consists of an old courtyard and a field that is home to a few majestic hardwood trees. A few beautiful oaks were on what would have been the plot’s best building site, and the decision was made to spare them the axe by moving construction and the building’s car park to the south end of the plot. The main entrance faces the car park, as do the staff and maintenance entrances. The playground is to the north and east of the building and extends in part onto the adjacent parkland. For the children’s groups, entry to the day-care facilities is through this playground.
The building robust in character. The facilities are on two floors, with the ventilation equipment room located in the attic. The fire class is P2. A two-storey tall hall and dining area serves as the heart of the building and opens up to leafy views of the oak trees. All other rooms are grouped around this central space.
Materials are robust, with facades vertically panelled with various widths of larch cladding that has been treated with iron slurry, which ages to a beautiful silky grey.
Indoors, the surfaces are glazed, moulded concrete or simply untreated concrete blocks. Multi-layered Rema board has been used to construct fixtures.
The Vaaralanpuisto day-care centre is a pilot project for the city’s near-zero energy concept. The building generates its own renewable energy using a geothermal system and a solar power system.