Toranoko Nursery is a small nursery designed by Takashige Yamashita Office in a town in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Most of the local residents are elderly, living in modest homes or farms scattered around the area. Along with a spectacular view of Mount Fuji, the town is enveloped in a quiet but somewhat deserted atmosphere
A small nursery with a big roof: Toranoko Nursery
The roofs of Toranoko Nursery, positioned at various angles, are the protagonists of the project, opening towards all directions in order to welcome visitors from all perspectives: children, elderly, mothers of the community who find refreshment under the large roof as if it were a big tree
The client's priority was to create a place that would allow the local community to flourish. A wooden structure with large windows was designed, with the roof of different curves able to create a sequence of scenarios, dividing garden, living room, canteen, care room and office. Children playing, elderly people resting, mothers chatting with each other and cats basking in the sun are all welcomed under the roof as under a big tree
The nursery takes advantage of natural light and ventilation: curved roof panels, oriented at all different angles, allowing more natural light to enter, as well as large windows which minimize the need to use electricity
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