PROARH architects find themselves working on a triangular lot, a real challenge to create a building with a functional plan. The idea of preserving the olive trees on the land, however, guides the design toward an irregular, fluid form that panders to the lot and incorporates the trees within itself
Asylum Earth Membrane. A merging of nature and architecture into a single organic form
The location of the kindergarten in the center of Drinovac, a village in Croatia of 200 inhabitants, required a careful approach to the intervention that fits into the fabric of the rural settlement. An olive grove and an irregularly shaped lot evoke an expressively impactful architectural gesture, as if to give new direction to the identity of the village itself through the Terra Membrane kindergarten
Through the organic form of the Terra Membrane kindergarten, usable space is maximized and the rooms are oriented toward the interior courtyards that are formed around the olive trees. These outdoor but shaded spaces provide natural lighting and ventilation in the summer months and allow for quality outdoor space even on the hottest days
The load-bearing elements of the Terra Membrane are made of concrete, allowing for the free form of the building. The concept of preserving the existing olive grove and cultivating the connection with the land is emphasized by the materials and colors chosen by the designers: the vertical elements of the facade are made of terracotta, which, with its natural tones, forms the earth membrane to which the kindergarten's name is dedicated. The interiors follow the same moodboard with, in addition, references to the hues of the Krka River and the bright colors of its fauna
The exterior membrane of vertical clay elements creates a highly functional ventilated facade that dematerializes in places through alternating slats with gaps in between. The fluidity of form and flowing rhythm is emphasized by the natural color variations of the clay elements with its orange hues
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