Micro-Daycare Center

Year
2017-2019
Type
Childhood, Education
Key Figures
2,368 sq ft (220 m2) including 1,292 sq ft (120 m2) of outdoor space and 1,184 sq ft (110 m2) of indoor floor area, €118k excl. VAT. Studies 9 months, construction 5 months.
Services
Design & Construction, Signage, Project Management

An ordinary 1980s detached house transformed into a unique and distinctive micro-daycare center, thanks to a complete renovation of the house, a wooden extension, the development of outdoor spaces, and colorful crayon-shaped facades and fences that signal the micro-daycare's presence and make it easily recognizable.

The Brief

Located in a residential neighborhood in the northern suburbs of Bordeaux, the project involved transforming a low-quality 1980s detached house into a micro-daycare center within a constrained budget. The house was completely gutted and renovated. The walls, roof, and fences were retained and selectively modified or repaired. A new interior layout with new joinery was installed, along with a street-facing extension. The extension allows the entire facility—the transformed existing part and the extension—to meet regulatory health requirements.

The outdoor spaces adjacent to the daycare center are included in the overall development. They serve as logistical access on one side and public access on the other, extending the daycare’s indoor spaces outdoors.

In addition to meeting the expected demands, the architectural work offers more at a constant budget. This includes a unique and vibrant image for the daycare, visible from the public space, thanks to the brightly colored wood cladding and its boards repurposed as colored pencils on the facades and fence. The construction was completed in 5 months.

Scope of Work

Full mission (design & construction), project management, signage

Photo Credits

Charlotte Bon

Every space was designed to the scale of toddlers: bright rooms, short circulation paths, and a direct connection to the garden. The wood of the extension and the bold colors of the facades give the place an immediately legible identity, without ever burdening the daily routines of the staff or the budget’s sobriety.

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