Aisaka Architects' Atelier has created a nursery school in a dense urban area of Tokyo that combines fun and function.

Built as a nursery school for 165 children, this city project neatly brings together diverse needs within a structure that is disaster-proof but also a fun place to play, as well as being open to the community via the adjacent park but also respectful of the neighbourhood and its streetscapes.

Combining flexibility and strength in a careful balance of form and colour ensures the building can respond to disasters as well as long-term societal changes, with an appearance that is appropriate for a nursery school without being overly childish.

The architecture contains four overlapping functions that ensure the facility will continue to be loved and used by the community for many years to come: it is a 'house' where children can play freely in a setting their instructors and families know is safe; a 'park' where all students can move their bodies and develop their minds; a 'school' where they can learn to appreciate the value of life and food; and a 'fort' to protect the community during any disasters.

This project has been longlisted in the civic building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Designer: Aisaka Architects' Atelier

Project: Higashitateishi Nursery School