The “Allesamt” Family Center Redefines the Relationship Between Childcare, Education, and Family Counseling

Increasing Demand for Childcare Services in Nenzing

As in many other cities, Nenzing is witnessing a notable rise in demand for childcare services, alongside family counseling and support. This trend reflects a growing need for comprehensive facilities that cater to both children and parents alike.

“Allesamt” Family Center: Integrating Multiple Functions Under One Roof

Located near the town center, the “Allesamt” Family Center stands as a clear example of merging diverse functions within a single space. The building includes dedicated areas for childcare and a nursery, as well as a spacious consultation zone aimed at parents and families. This thoughtful design highlights a strong commitment to creating an integrated environment that supports the entire family, not just the child.

Distinctive Design and Strategic Location

The new building is situated directly next to Nenzing railway station, making it easily visible to anyone traveling along the Walgau line. Characterized by its striking wooden construction, the architectural design by Christian Schmoelz Architekt demonstrates a refined balance between aesthetics and practical functionality. Moreover, its strategic location enhances accessibility to childcare and family support services, reinforcing the building’s role as a central hub for the local community.

Façade Design: Blending Aesthetics with Nature

The building’s façade is clad with spruce wood, which has not yet acquired its natural gray patina, giving the structure a vibrant and warm appearance. The arched windows and distinctive openings further attract attention, adding a visual charm that balances modernity with traditional character.

Visual Segmentation That Respects the Surroundings

The elongated building is visually divided into four smaller volumes for two main reasons: first, this segmentation allows the large structure to integrate more harmoniously with the surrounding residential area, which is dominated by single-family homes. Second, it facilitates the incorporation of existing mature trees, such as maple and pine, into the overall design, particularly on the northern and eastern sides of the building.

The Importance of Outdoor Spaces

This integration between the building and its natural environment shows that the design of the outdoor spaces is not merely an aesthetic addition but an essential part of the overall architectural concept. The careful consideration of the surrounding landscape creates a sense of balance between the structure and the community, enriching the experience for both users and visitors alike.

Smart Guidance of Children’s Movement

Children’s paths throughout the site are defined by new, light-colored paving adorned with ground markings in the shape of dots placed at gradually closer intervals. These paths extend smoothly beyond the property boundaries, providing children with a clear and intuitive guide as they move through the space.

Connecting Different Facilities

The dotted pathways and paving lead children past the bicycle parking area, through the playground, and finally to their designated group rooms via three entrances, each equipped with its own cloakroom. This thoughtful organization demonstrates how design can facilitate a seamless and safe experience for children as they navigate the building.

Learning Movement Skills Through Design

Upon reaching the upper floor via the staircase, it becomes evident that the children’s play and relaxation areas are located on the first floor, a rather unconventional choice for such facilities. This design encourages children to learn how to use the stairs confidently and safely, adding an educational and experiential dimension to their daily activities within the building.

Enhancing Learning Through a Multi-Level Design

With the support of appropriate fall-protection measures and the supervision of caregivers, the multi-story structure becomes an effective spatial and educational resource. In this context, constructing a single-story nursery would be difficult to justify, especially considering the additional land area it would require.

Flexible Spatial Organization

Thanks to this design decision, nearly all functional rooms are located on the same level and interact seamlessly with the educational concept. This arrangement allows children to move freely within their floor without being confined to a fixed group, fostering exploration, interactive learning, and the development of independence and cooperation skills among the children.

Naming Rooms to Strengthen Community Identity

The idea of naming rooms after local community sections, such as Gusto (Gurtis), Heia (Heimat), and Bewegung (Beschling), is reflected in the signage throughout the building. These names not only add an educational dimension but also help children recognize their surroundings and understand their functions in a symbolic and engaging way.

Distribution of Rooms and Facilities

Supporting and auxiliary rooms are located on the ground floor. To the west, with a dedicated entrance from the front courtyard, lies the counseling center operated by Connexia (the social service provider) in cooperation with the municipality. This entrance connects various facilities, including the staff entrance, the dining and cooking area (Gusto), restrooms, and the workshop.

Facilities for Staff and Children

On the eastern side of the ground floor are the staff lounge and rest area, along with the Heia sleeping room designed for the youngest children. This thoughtful spatial arrangement demonstrates how the design fosters a cohesive environment that supports both staff and children, while reflecting the building’s educational and social purposes.

Structure and Materials

The building features a timber frame structure set on a reinforced concrete basement. The windows and façade cladding are made of spruce wood, while ash wood dominates the interior spaces, including the flooring, wall paneling, and built-in furniture. This thoughtful combination of materials achieves a harmonious balance between aesthetics and functionality, lending the building a warm and natural character.

Excellence in Design and Collaboration

It is noteworthy that the building achieved an impressive score of 936 out of 1000 in the Municipal Building Certificate (KGA), reflecting the high quality of both design and execution. The exemplary cooperation between the client’s representatives, the users, and the architects highlights the importance of teamwork in making functional, spatial, and design decisions, resulting in outcomes that are both efficient and visually refined.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The “Allesamt” Family Center can be viewed as a model that integrates childcare, family counseling, and practical education within a multi-story architectural design. On the positive side, the project offers a clear spatial organization, thoughtfully guided pathways for children, and flexible rooms that allow smooth transitions between activities, reflecting a strong emphasis on educational and interactive engagement for young users. Moreover, the integration of the surrounding natural landscape into the exterior design demonstrates a conscious attention to environmental harmony and green spaces.

However, several considerations may arise from an architectural or urban planning perspective when analyzing the project. First, while the multi-story design efficiently utilizes available space, it may present challenges for broader application, particularly regarding safety, supervision, and the daily movement of small children. Second, naming the rooms with symbolic community-inspired terms, though conceptually enriching, might be unfamiliar to visitors or new families, requiring additional signage or orientation guidance for ease of use. Third, the concentration of all functions within a single structure could limit future expansion or adaptability to evolving community needs, especially if demand grows for additional services or extended educational and counseling programs.

From an architectural and planning standpoint, the project provides a valuable case study of how multi-functional spaces can interact with both users and their environment. At the same time, it highlights that adopting the concept of a comprehensive family center requires careful balancing between diverse functions, safety, and long-term flexibility. Designers and architects can draw insights from this model for similar projects, focusing on how to implement integrated solutions without compromising safety or long-term usability.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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