Senri Hijiri Kindergarten and Hijiri Nijiiro Nursery School North Building｜Abax Architects

This project involves the reconstruction and expansion of a certified childcare facility in conjunction with seismic retrofitting. Originally an open field used as farmland, the site retains an existing mature crape myrtle tree and a wisteria trellis, around which the childcare rooms are arranged in a surrounding layout connected by corridors. To minimize impact on the surrounding environment and reduce the sense of enclosure with the existing buildings, the building height was kept as low as possible. This design allows easy access from the central outdoor staircase down onto a gently sloping embankment.

We aimed to create an environment that leaves lasting memories for the children who spend their daily lives at the facility, with architecture that supports this experience. We hope that, over time, the building will become a structure that stands harmoniously within a forested setting.