German studio Winkens Architekten have completed a kindergarten in Berlin that has sheltered terraces at each end.

The symmetrical building accommodates a kindergarten on one side and a crèche on the other, both of which are accessed from a central foyer.

The exterior walls of the single-storey building are brickwork, while walls and ceilings surrounding the decked terraces are clad in timber.

A square hole in the canopy of one terrace will allow a newly planted tree to grow through.

Door and window frames are painted in bright shades of red and orange.

Winken Architekten previously designed a copper-clad extension that loops around an existing house - see the story on Dezeen here.

Photography is by Marcel Klebs and Jirka Arndt.

Here are some more details from Winkens Architekten:

For a replacement building of a Kindergarden in the Waltersdorfer Street 94, 12526 Berlin.

The evangelistic Churchcomunity Berlin Bohnsdorf-Grünau provided a plot at the corner of Neptun Street to Schulzendorfer Street in Berlin, Germany.

The plots level is even and partly settled with big trees. The border to the Neptun Street is marked by a small hill which is surrounded by trees.

The architectonic concept relies on the base of the educational concept of the Kindergarden "Apfelbäumchen".

By considering the Spacial conditions of the small hill and the trees the linear one floor building was set orthogonal to the Neptun Street along the east border of the plot.

The linear building is central opened over a row of secondary rooms. The Entry is followed by a Foyer and a multipurpose room which opens to the garden.

The Kindergarden and the creche work like apartments and each have a entry from the foyer. This strengthens the individuality of the two functions.

The arrangement of the homerooms and the multi purpose room underlines the linearity of the building.

The direct connection to the garden is one of the main focus. The multi purpose room in the center functions as a pedagogical connection of the Kindergarden.

The kindergarden and the creche have both a terrace at the end of the building which opens to the garden and helps to connect the rooms to the outside.

The facade is made in brick, and the terraces are made of wood. Natural materials are characterizing the appearance. The roof is extensively greened and partially used for solar energy gain. The building is heated with gas.

Project: New building Kindergarden
Name: Forscherkindergarten Apfelbäumchen
Location: Neptunstraße 10, 12526 Berlin, Germany
Client: Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Bohnsdorf-Grünau
Architect: WINKENS Architekten, Berlin, Germany
Team: Karl-Heinz Winkens, Marcel Klebs

Places:
Under 3 years: 22 childrens
Over 3 years: 23 childrens
GFA: 550 sqm
Plot Area: 6500 sqm
Building time: October 2010 – July 2011