Kazenoko (After-School Day Service)｜Kumi Inoue Architects

This facility serves as a 'second home' for the children who gather here. The site is located within a residential area of Osaka City, flanked by a high-rise condominium and a three-story house. On this narrow, elongated plot, we designed a small-scale building tailored to children's proportions.

The volumes comprising the consultation room, plaza, playroom, and loft, all under gabled roofs, are arranged sequentially along a narrow alley-like approach extending inward from the street. By setting ceiling heights according to the activities under each roof, the continuous triangular roofs connect with a rhythmic alternation of 'high and low.'

The central plaza is an external space featuring only a roof over an earthen floor. Situated deep within the site, this blending of interior and exterior aims to create a comfortable environment for children. The shadows cast by the low roofs and eaves convey a sense of protection from the outside, while beyond them lies a rich spatial composition characterized by the interplay of 'inside-outside' and 'high-low' elements.

We sincerely hope that children will spend their time here with a sense of security, creating their own favorite places, and through unique spatial and human connections experienced only in this setting, will foster their growth.

- Selected as one of the 100 Works by the Japan Institute of Architects in 2024
- Recipient of the JCAABE Urban Design Competition 2024 Ichiko Taro Award
- Encouragement Award (General Category) at the 16th Architecture Person Award