Private daycare
inspired by
fairytales
- SCOPE
- Large international company
- Helsinki
- 300 m²
- Service environment
- Work environment
- Co-creation
- Spatial design
- Graphic design
Everyday life is playful in this charming daycare. Versatile functions and access routes support simultaneous use by multiple groups of children. The vibrant colour palette and whimsical details encourage children to explore the world, without forgetting rest time. Both the children and the staff have welcomed the new daycare with open arms. We were responsible for the project’s interior architecture and graphic identity.
Colourful
fairytale world
that invites exploration
The patterns on the floor of the activation corridor serve as guidelines for everyday activities, such as queuing, but it is also fun to jump on them. The corridor also has a climbing wall and fun mirrors.
The daycare is inspiring and colourful, but its overall atmosphere is calm. There is plenty of room for the children’s own art on the walls.
Private daycare
The daycare for employees’ children is designed for around sixty children, from toddlers to preschoolers. The premises have been designed with the needs of children and daycare staff in mind – everything has been thought through to the last detail.
Space designed together with staff
The daycare was designed in close cooperation with the client’s project team and, in particular, the daycare manager. The starting point was to create a durable space that takes the children’s needs into account and supports the daycare’s everyday life.
“The purpose of each space guided the choice of interior design elements and colour scheme. We wanted to create both stimulating and calming spaces that serve the daycare’s activities in diverse ways. For example, the patterns on the corridor floor can be used as guidelines in queuing and as safe nests, while playing tag,” explain Aino Keto and Maiju Hatakka, interior architects at Rune & Berg Design.
The spaces were designed according to the following objectives:
- A functionally diverse and adaptable environment made for children
- Space that feeds the imagination and offers different atmospheres
- Cost-conscious implementation
The daycare manager praises the design process, which took the wishes and expertise of the staff into account from the very beginning:
“We worked closely together throughout the entire journey. We thought about what happens in the different areas and what is needed in each. I felt that we were heard and our work and related needs were appreciated. The design team was so professional all the time that it was easy and inspiring to participate in the project – it felt like we could just go with the flow.”
The bedrooms can also be used for reading stories and playing, thanks to their adaptable furniture. The purple colour scheme and a twinkling starry sky are calming when it is time to rest.
Functional details, such as personal lockers for the children, were designed together with the users in order to make transitions easier in everyday life.
"We are really satisfied and enjoy working here. The facilities are very functional, and I believe that this is thanks to our good cooperation."
Space for rest, play and imagination
The required functionalities and their placement were carefully thought out together with the users. Separate entrances and dining areas for different kindergarten groups, as well as versatile rest and activity areas, make everyday life smoother. Yard areas, sports facilities and the activating elements in the corridors encourage children to move and support pedagogy. The facilities also include a so-called multisensory space, where children can freely create their own art.
“Areas for loud and quiet activities, such as mealtimes and rest time, were placed in different parts of the daycare centre to ensure a pleasant sound environment. The support facilities, such as toilets, are located between these so that they are easily accessible from anywhere. The staff have their own premises and access routes, which supports their workday,” Aino and Maiju say.
The daycare has been well received. In particular, the attention to functional needs has received praise. “We are really satisfied and enjoy working here. The facilities are very functional, and I believe that this is thanks to our good cooperation. Seemingly small design solutions, such as sufficient storage space, a big mudroom and toilets that are accessible from two directions, make our everyday life much easier,” says the day care manager.
Adaptable solutions for children
Most of the spaces in the daycare are adaptable and have been furnished so that there is room for everyday activities and play. Fixtures and furniture, such as the kitchen island and sinks, were sized for adults and children. This allows the children to participate in the daycare’s everyday activities. Mobile furniture on castors makes it possible to divide the room, allowing the larger open space to be used for different functions at the same time and making the space easily adaptable to different needs.
The end result is a daycare that is functional and inspiring from the point of view of both children and staff: “The children have been really excited about the entire daycare and the different spaces. The teachers get to work in a more peaceful environment. The functionality of the premises improves the quality of every working day, which is important for the entire work community. Thank you very much, it has been wonderful to work with you,” the daycare manager says.
The hand-drawn floral mirrors lead the children into the world of fairytales. Hand-washing basins are at the right height for the children.
Photos: Mikael Pettersson