Jarun Kindergarten

Designed in response to Zagreb’s growing demand for childcare facilities, the kindergarten addresses questions of program rationalization, flexibility, and adaptability within a compact urban site. Conceived as a distinct spatial presence within a largely generic residential context, the building contributes to the formation of local identity and a sense of place. The elongated, pavilion-like volume develops vertically as a compact, multi-level kindergarten. A sequence of small atriums and skylights brings daylight, ventilation, and microclimatic variation into the interior, creating intermediate spaces between inside and outside and supporting children’s everyday contact with natural phenomena. Programmatic organization unfolds across levels, with shared spaces connected to protected outdoor terraces and select areas designed to function independently, extending the kindergarten’s role beyond daily use into the social life of the neighbourhood.