A large-scale nursery school located in the rural area of Shiga Prefecture. The building is a single-story wooden structure constructed using “Biwako wood,” a locally sourced material, both inside and outside. Under the Building Standards Act, childcare facilities exceeding a certain scale are required to have fire-resistant structures, which imposes restrictions on the use of exposed wood. This childcare facility meets the Building Standards Act by incorporating fire-resistant structures in the exterior walls, while preserving the natural texture of wood.
The lightweight, house-shaped wooden frame spans the building, connecting the indoor plaza, childcare rooms, and hall, creating spaces of various scales.
The wooden spaces made from Biwako wood provide an environment where children can choose activities and places to relax according to their mood and interests.