TE PUNA KINDERGARTEN

Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA): 2022 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards Winner.

Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ): 2022 Commended Award, Commercial/Industrial.

What the judges said:

This joyful kindergarten is made up of two strong building forms that provide a clear and confident entry from a busy car park. Its contemporary shed-like appearance gives a nod to its rural neighbours. Inside, generous, light-filled spaces comprise a sociable and welcoming learning environment that is easily navigated at play time and rush hour by small people, teachers, and caregivers. Te Puna Kindergarten is an asset to future generations creating a practical and playful space for tamariki that delights and inspires. Click here for the NZIA citation

The brief was to design a kindergarten with core values of sustainable and cost-effective energy efficient design at the forefront. The design is split into two main forms with the entry linking the two and providing a separation between the Main Activity Area and the rest of the building. The gable pavilion allows the roof to control the level of sunlight entering the building and skylights are positioned out of direct sunlight for heat control whilst ventilating the space. The mono pitch roof form allows northern light to enter the building above the northern most gable form. The gable form, timber and corrugated claddings reference traditional rural barn buildings and ancillary structure claddings and respond to the sites surroundings. The sun screen to the west of the gable form is painted in an abstract fashion depicting the rolling hills and skyline of the surrounding Te Puna landscape. The building is designed to a high level of sustainability and cost effective energy efficiency with passive thermal mass heat storage and control, ventilating skylights out of direct sunlight, careful consideration of cross ventilating windows and doors and products chosen where possible for their FSC certification and chemical free properties.