Competition Kindergarten Puch
| Location | Puch bei Weiz, Austria |
| Principal use | Kindergarten, Nursery |
| Total floor area | 1200m2 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Design team | Mark Neuner, Felix Redmann, Marlene Lötsch, Fabiola Roberti, Marine Devresse |
This proposal was developed for a competition by the municipality of Puch in Eastern Styria. Surrounded by orchards and historic apple varieties, the site offered the opportunity to link architecture, education and nature in a meaningful way. Our concept explored how every learning and community space could have a direct relationship to the outdoors. A generous garden with a sensory discovery trail was intended to support exploration and learning with all the senses. The project aimed for resource-efficient, circular construction with minimal impact on the landscape and high spatial quality – a building that opens itself to nature, community and learning.
The design proposed a freestanding, single-storey timber building composed of four compact volumes, responding to the scale of the surroundings and creating child-friendly environments. Natural light and ventilation from all sides, together with covered outdoor areas, would have created sheltered transitional zones with educational value. The spatial concept was based on the principle of “space as the third educator”, making openness, orientation and a strong relationship with nature tangible
Inside, a central circulation axis served as more than a corridor; it functioned as cloakroom, waiting and meeting space, opening onto two planted atriums. Generous ceiling heights under the pitched roof allowed for raised play levels that offered new perspectives and additional spaces for exploration.
The construction approach focused on circularity and regional sourcing. A prefabricated timber building on screw foundations avoided the need for concrete and allowed all components to be dismantled and reused. A “low-tech, high-quality” concept ensured robust, user-friendly systems supported by natural ventilation and intelligent skylights
